Air France strike leaves travellers stranded

A strike by Air France flight attendants grounded more than 30% of its planes for a third day today – the start of a holiday in France – and unions predicted more of the same after unanimously rejecting a proposal.

Air France said it expected to maintain 60% of its flights tomorrow and advised travellers to check flight status before coming to the airport.

The strike over pay and working conditions was expected to last through Monday. It coincided with the first day of a holiday period for the French, creating chaotic scenes at Paris’ two airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly.

“It’s complicated with small children,” said Christelle Caduc, a mother with three young children hoping to catch a plane at Charles de Gaulle. “They can get lost in the crowd.”

Foreign travellers also suffered from the strike.

Claire Battersby, from Scotland, said she would miss the 50th wedding anniversary of her parents because her flight to Amsterdam, where she was connecting, was delayed.

“Fifty years, and it will be very sad. All the rest of the family will be there and I won’t,” Battersby said in an interview with AP Television News.

Air France said that 65% of its scheduled flights took off by 5pm (3pm Irish time) today, but made no mention of the numerous delays reported.

Talks yesterday evening reopened today. An Air France proposal was unanimously rejected by flight attendants’ unions as insufficient.

Air France, meanwhile, offered ticket-holders the chance to change reservations for a later date without penalty or get reimbursed if no suitable travel alternative could be found.