Traveling to France next week? You may want to switch your plans.
Two French air traffic controller unions have voted for a six-day strike beginning Tuesday. The two unions, SNCTA and Unsa-ICNA, predict "a large number of cancellations and major disruption" from June 24 to 29.
The strike, which could affect millions of travelers, is just one in a series of actions taken by the unions against the government. The unions accused Transport Minister Frédéric Cuvillier of breaking his promise that financing would not be cut -- a promise that led the unions to call off a strike in January after four days.
The timing is bad for French transportation. The air traffic controller strike comes as another French strike -- of rail workers -- was drawing to a close.
Travel Update: France: Rail services returning to normal as strike appears to wind down.— Portman Travel (@PortmanTravel) June 20, 2014
The rail strike, which has cost at least €80 million ($108 million), is one of the largest labor protest actions in the country in years.
Airline carriers flying to and from airports France are working on contingency plans. EasyJet and Ryanair said they will advise customers after they have additional information and see what happens next week. Typically, though, airlines reschedule flights in the event of a strike; passengers usually have to call the airline to start that process.
If you are flying to/from France next week (24-29 June), be aware air traffic controllers are announcing general strike!— The Travel Magazine (@TravelMagazine) June 20, 2014
More than 60% of France's 4,000 air traffic controllers voted for the strike.