Passengers flying from UK airports to Spain on Friday are facing the prospect of lengthy delays because of a walkout by French air traffic controllers. The nation's government has requested airlines slash flight schedules by half to ease pressure and minimise any delays.
Flights from the UK to France and Spain face lengthy delays and European air travel regulator Eurocontrol is drawing up plans to help airlines avoid French air space. Airlines facing disruption include Air France, easyJet, Ryanair, Transavia and any flights to the south of Spain.
The French SNCTA air traffic control union in a statement blamed surging inflation and its demand to hire more people as the reasons for the walkout. Strikes across the aviation industry together with staff shortages have impacted summer schedules as operations attempted to return to normal following the pandemic.
The Civil Aviation Authority predicts significant flight cancellations and delays throughout the country and it has urged passengers who can postpone their trip if possible and check with their airline to remain in touch with the status of their flight. French airspace covers more than 14 million square kilometres across mainland France, the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and French overseas territories.
On average around 8,800 flights a day travel through French airspace.
Meanwhile, passengers are also being advised their plans could also be disrupted during the period of national mourning for Queen Elizabeth II. Officials at Heathrow Airport have said programmes may be subjected to change while the nation observes the National Moment of Reflection with a one-minute silence at 8pm on September 18 and the broadcast of Queen Elizabeth's funeral on screens at the airport on Monday.
Heathrow said: "Further changes to the airport operation will be communicated in full over the coming days.”
