Air France Strike Grounds 15% of Flights
Even as Qantas planes are heading back into the air after a nasty labor dispute, an Air France strike continues and it has so far grounded about 15 percent of the carrier’s flights.
Flight Attendants on Strike Through Wednesday
The strike was launched by flight attendants and other cabin crew members. According to Bloomberg, the issue in contention is Air France’s plans to cut staffing levels on its Airbus SAS single-aisle jets.
European airline strikes and what you can do about them
Unions representing cabin crews called for a strike for the popular European travel period of Oct. 29 through Nov. 2, which includes All Saints Day (Nov. 1).
However, not all flight attendants are participating in the job action. Unions say 50 percent to 60 percent of its members are on strike, while the airline pegs the figure at half that number. In any event, most Air France planes are still in the air and on schedule.
What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed
Airline Offers Fee Waivers for Passengers
That “most” planes are still flying is of little consolation if your flight is affected by the strike. The Air France website now includes a list of canceled flights, but note that the airline is not ruling out last-minute, on-the-spot cancelations and delays where passengers would receive little if any notice.
Advice to Air France travelers: Stay in touch with the airline and sign up for alerts. You may also wish to rebook your flight and the airline is waiving the “change fee” for certain routes and dates. The sooner you act, the better your chances of getting the flight you want.
