Airlines are warning of “increased disruption” to flights and other transport services to France over the next week as strikes are held across the country.
French trade unions are expected to take increased action from Wednesday, June 1, as part of an ongoing programme of strikes, which has also included the blockading of fuel depots and refineries.
Planned action includes stoppages by air traffic controllers and airport workers from June 2-5, national rail workers from June 1 and on the Paris transport system from June 2. Strikes are being held in protest at the French government's planned reforms of employment laws.
Easyjet said: “As a result of this continued industrial action there has been increased disruption across our network.
“While it is impossible to predict the level of disruption, we are expecting delays and cancellations over the upcoming weekend due to the impact of the strike on the fuel levels across some French airports.
“We advise all passengers travelling from French airports to allow plenty of extra time to get to the airport and consider alternative transport options where possible, as public transport services will be affected by the strikes.”
Ryanair said that the air traffic control strike would affect “thousands of flights” across Europe including those that have to fly through French airspace.
“This unjustified strike action demonstrates how a tiny French union can once more hold Europe’s skies to ransom with thousands of flights from the UK, Ireland, Spain and Italy – none of which either take off or land in France – cancelled and hundreds of thousands of passengers’ travel plans again disrupted,” said the airline in a statement.
Chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs added: “As we approach the peak holiday season, European travellers should prepare for a summer of discontent as there is absolutely nothing preventing these selfish unions from staging even more strikes in the coming weeks and months.”