Does anybody know anything about a possible ATC strike throughout Europe in the near future? I was talking to a friend today, and she had heard it from somebody. She(and I as well) are concered because we are both flying to Europe come July. Seems like there are many strikes nowadays in some form or other in the airline industry.
GD1
By: Rabie - 21st June 2002 at 15:25
RE: ATC Strike
Nikumba – france ahs a handful of e3-f. maybee 4 or 5. the uk has around 7 e-3d and nato has a force (dunno number). aeronaval has 3 e-2c but one is on order and the rest are on the charles de gaulle in the indian ocean. greece has some saab awacs and so soes sweeden. britian, spain and italy have aew sea king choppers.
now an e-3 is a boeing 707 but has 17 contollers on it. the e2 has very few contllers, the saab has a few more, while the chopper is very limited.
there is also of course the land based systems which could be militarly operated which would be much more sensible.
basically it would be impracticle for the awacs to control all of the european skies. ground based military controllers could proalbe take over, but i guess its in the intrest of the various states govermnets not to do so. if they leave it in caos, then the public get pissed with teh strikers not the gov.
rabie :9
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By: KabirT - 21st June 2002 at 14:08
RE: ATC Strike
Air travellers are warned to prepare for strike delays:
THOUSANDS of disgruntled airline passengers face further chaos today with a general strike in Spain expected to cripple public transport. A 12-hour strike by air traffic controllers, in France yesterday, forced the cancellation of 28 Ryanair and four Aer Lingus flights.
However, Aer Lingus said last night they had received an assurance from the Spanish air traffic controllers that they would not be involved in the 24-hour strike, which was to begin at midnight.
Charlotte Brenner, marketing manager of Falcon/JWT holidays, said they were arranging alternatives for travellers to and from Spain.
She said that in the event of the strike going ahead, it would affect airports, hotels, transport and general services in Spain, the Canaries and the Balearics.
“We are inviting our customers to make contact with their travel agent or the booking agent and to prepare for possible delays. We will make every effort to ensure our customers are looked after,” said Ms Brenner.
“Those travelling outbound should bring extra provisions and supplies of essential items, and bring euros.”
Major carriers cancelled 7,700 flights either in or out of France or through French airspace yesterday.
Huge numbers were left stranded because of air traffic controllers’ opposition to EU plans to introduce a one-sky policy, which they fear will mean the privatisation of national airlines and closure of airports with consequent job losses.
Their counterparts in Italy, Greece, Hungary and Portugal took token sympathy action yesterday which also caused some disruption.
Ryanair and Aer Lingus were each only able to operate one flight into France yesterday.
Aer Lingus said they had to cancel four flights to France yesterday but had been assured by the Spanish air traffic authority normal service would operate today despite the general strike. Flights would go ahead from Dublin to Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona and Madrid.
Meanwhile, the Irish Travel Agents’ Association warned that thousands of passengers could lose the cost of their flights because airlines are not bonded. Passengers have no protection if an airline that isn’t bonded collapses.
ITTA president Tony Brazil called on Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to ensure airlines are bonded as soon as is possible.
“Travel agents and tour operators operate a bonding system and it is high time that airline consumers had the same protection,” Mr Brazil said.
“I don’t think that it is widely appreciated that airlines are not bonded like travel agents – this is a serious industry wide issue
By: Nikumba - 21st June 2002 at 12:04
RE: ATC Strike
I dont see why just becasuse the French strike it should shut down all of the air traffic in Europe.
There are other assests avalible to contact air traffic in Europe, namely the E3-C Sentries (AWACS) these have the radar and personell to do it my opinion, Im suprised this idea has not been tried, as if they can run an air war from one of them they can run European air space from one or two of them.
Nikumba
By: kkbelos - 21st June 2002 at 10:20
RE: ATC Strike
Two days ago (19) ATC controllers from France, Portugal and a few more countries went on strike, I don´t know if they are preparing another one but I´s very typical of french air controllers to go on strike in very critical days, an so collapsing all the air traffic in Europe.
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June 21, 2002 at 9:42 am