Strikes in France Disrupting Countrywide Air and Rail Travel

Image: PHOTO: Protest, strike (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)
Image: PHOTO: Protest, strike (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:45 PM ET, Thu April 28, 2016

Strikes across France have caused travel nightmares, as regular airport and train service in the country has been disrupted by protests.

According to The Associated Press, air traffic controllers striking have caused the cancellation of 20 percent of flights scheduled at Paris Orly Airport and caused major delays at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

In response, Air France officials told France24.com that the airline expects to operate all long-haul flights, all flights from Charles de Gaulle and 80 percent of its flights from Paris Orly, but customers who are concerned will be able to rebook their flights at no extra cost.

In addition to flight disruptions, France's national state-owned railway company, SNCF, told local media outlets that it expects 90 percent of its trains to operate normally across France while the strikes and protests continue.

The strikes and protests are against the new labor reform bill, which critics claim will compromise worker protections without actually addressing the real problem of a high unemployment rate.

In Germany, a recent surge of strikes at major airports was joined by Lufthansa employees, causing the cancellation of more than 900 flights earlier this week.


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