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Aviation

Going away soon? There's going to be a "summer of discontent"

European passengers face industrial action by French air traffic controllers tomorrow, with five more days scheduled.

AIR PASSENGERS ARE being warned that this summer could feature wide disruptions.

European passengers face industrial action by French air traffic controllers tomorrow, with five more days scheduled.

Further strikes are announced for 3-5 June and 14 June meaning more cancelled flights, delayed journeys, and detours across Europe. Following similar strikes since March, French air traffic control (ATC) will work on a reduced capacity for at least 24 hours from tomorrow morning. It will be the 48th strike day in France since 2009.

In total, 2,500 flights have been cancelled this year by Airlines 4 Europe members alone. The aviation alliance counts Ryanair, Lufthansa and Aer Lingus parent group IAG as members. With more than 500 million passengers on board each year, A4E members account for more than half of the continent’s passenger journeys.

Thomas Reynaert, Managing Director of A4E, warned the strikes could last all summer.

“The overall impact of these strikes will be immense as they are taking place at a very busy time of the year. We are hurtling towards a summer of disruption and frustration for customers.

“The European Commission and governments must act immediately to protect the rights of millions of European travellers affected by this repeated and disproportionate industrial action.”

In 2015 more than 10,000 flights operated by A4E members were affected by 28 days of ATC strikes.

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