The French air traffic controllers have, after two days, ended the strike which was expected to run till 30th June,this year. This comes after the two major French traffic control unions had a discussion with the government. The strike had caused great inconveniences to the passengers and the government claimed to end it as it recognises the great value associated with the investment in the air transport sector. The strike had been due to protest of the traffic controllers over insufficiency of funds that are important for the modernisation of the sector.
The strike had seen thousands of passengers stranded after cancellation of many trips some of which were very important and others that needed urgent shipments causing great disruption to the passengers. Some of the trips had to be diverted to different routes of Europe leading to longer ways than the usual ways used. The flights which had been cancelled on Wednesday included Ryanair, Air France and Easy Jet.
The civil aviation body of France had anticipated for an improvement having made discussions with the government and gave a report indicating that most of the flights would function by Thursday. The traffic controllers want an increase in the airport airline fees by 10% whereas the companies are demanding that the fees should go downwards. Therefore the government is engaged to ensure that there is harmony between the parties and also come to an agreement that considers the demands of both parties.
One of the unions had decided not to go on strike since the previous talks with the government had not been successful but maintained that the navigation tools of the French airlines are obsolete, a condition regarded to be very dangerous.
Despite the major distraction to the passengers, operations are expected to resume to normal following the call for the end of the strike.
By Oliver Derek
