PARIS, France: French air traffic controllers are set to stage a one-day strike on Thursday that risks seeing most flights cancelled at the two main airports of Paris.
France’s leading aviation association warned Tuesday of the chaos after a breakdown of negotiations on salary increases.
Unions announced to stage strike on salary increases and other measures in a planned overhaul of France’s air traffic control system.
The announcement has raised new concerns over the risk of strikes during the Olympic Games Paris is due to host from late July, when hundreds of thousands of extra visitors are likely in the city.
Major airline unions have also warned they could call a multi-day strike over the busy May weekend if their demands are not met.
Pascal de Izaguirre, president of FNAM, the umbrella group of French aviation trade unions, said the strike would be “very strong”.
He said 75 percent of flights at Orly Airport in Paris and 65 percent at Charles de Gaulle, the capital’s main airport, may be canceled. Airports in the region are also expected to be significantly affected.
“It will have a huge impact,” he said.
The reforms in the air traffic sector aim to improve productivity but unions demand the changes should be accompanied by higher salaries.
The main air traffic union, the SNCTA, has also issued warning it could also go on strike for three days, from May 9 to May 11, potentially wrecking many people’s holiday plans.
The union, in the statement, condemned the failure of the discussions particularly on the question of social support and gave authorities 15 days to find a solution before it carries out the strike threat.
