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
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