There is going to be an air traffic control strike in Paris starting Monday, February 11th, and lasting all week.

They are saying that this will delay all of the flights in and out of CDG while half of the flight in and out of Orly will be cancelled.

Even though this only concerns the 3 ATC centers around Paris, such strikes often affect the schedules of just about any plane that flies over France, due to the central location of Paris on the western part of the continent.

Well, get it out of the way now. I need clear skies for April/May.

Thanks for the update, Kerouac.

I agree; they had better just keep it to one week if they feel the burning need to strike. I'm flying home to the U.S. for a week at the end of the month--that's stressful enough

When I complained during the major strikes this fall (metro, rail, and my university) I couldn't believe how many people justified the paralysis/lack of classes with the "It's the democratic way" argument. Anyone else hear that, by chance?

Yes, we hear it all the time in France, and even the government is obliged to say that the right to strike is a basic freedom which must be protected.

Although everyone regrets that there is insufficient obligatory negotiation (such as is practiced in Germany) to avoid strikes, nobody would want strikes to be banned like in China or the Middle East.

Thanks Kerouac for keeping us updated on this latest strike. I'm arriving next Sunday morning and hopefully it will be over by then. I'd like my daughter's first time in Paris to start on the right foot, but we'll be prepared in any event.

Kerouac we will be coming into Paris CDG on Friday morning 2/15/08 from JFK. I have been planning this trip for a year. Do you think we will have any problems?

Thanks

Arriving flights have priority over departing flights, so keep your fingers crossed and you might not have a delay.

Keroauc fingers are double crossed. Thanks for the update. Looking forward to seeing your beautiful city.

They should just fire the Air Traffic controllers like Reagan did during his presidency!

Yes, the U.S. should make laws to govern the entire world instead of allowing dangerous freedom to spread around.

My flight leaves 2/12 for Paris I hope to get in and get stuck for the length of the strike. Viva la France!

The strike is only from Monday to Friday this week. 11 to 15 February 2008.

It has something to do with the employees being moved from Orly and Athis Mons (next to Orly) to CDG for 3 years and then moving them back to a new centralized ATC center near Orly after that. That would mean 3 years of commuting 3 hours a day or more, when most of the employees live maybe 15 minutes from their work now. No compensation, because it is just a 'temporary' move. The unions are saying that a new ATC center can be built without disrupting the other centers with a much smoother transfer.

I don't know who is right.

kerouac, thats a great idea.

kerouac, I'm glad your country allows the freedom to strike for unjust situations- here in the U.S., it is illegal for Air Traffic Controllers to go on strike- every one else can, though (Pilots, Attendants, etc).
Anyway, how IS the strike going? Any word of the strike being extended? Just curious, as I'm flying into Paris at the end of this month.
Thanks for your info!

The strike ended tonight. The ATC people will be back at work on Friday February 15.

When I called USAir from Paris yesterday (2/13) I was told our CDG to PHL flight was delayed 5 hours due to the strike and we were to still check in by the original time or they didn't have to hold our seats.

However, by the time we got to the airport - no one would admit there was a strike! They said the delays were all due to weather in the North Eastern US.

I wonder which it was?

I can tell you it WAS, in fact, the weather. Of the 1,739 system delays from Feb 13th, PHL counted the most and listed ceilings (weather) as
the cause. The northeast was not very balmy. Just thought I'd let you know you were told the truth-about the weather, anyway!

And I will further say that it was reported in Paris today that there were a ton of flight delays at both CDG and Orly due to fog in the morning.