France: Unionized air traffic controllers cancel 24-hour strike notice as of April 24; flight disruptions remain likely /update 2

Unionized air traffic controllers (ATC) have lifted their 24-hour nationwide strike notice as of April 24, but flight disruptions remain likely from April 25 into early April 26. The National Syndicate of Air Traffic Controllers (SNCTA) called off the industrial action after they reached an agreement with the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC). The previously stated flight reductions are likely to continue due to the timing of the cancellation. As of April 24, authorities planned to cancel significant numbers of flights during the postponed strike period, including (in order of scheduled flight operations):

• Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (CDG): 65 percent of flights to be canceled.

• Paris-Orly (ORY): 75 percent canceled.

• Nice (NCE): 60-70 percent canceled.

• Lyon (LYS): 50 percent canceled.

• Toulouse (TLS): 60 percent canceled.

• Marseille (MRS): 65 percent canceled.

Disruptions to flights overflying France are also possible; Ireland-based carrier Ryanair (FR) announced the cancellation of at least 300 flights, impacting more than 50,000 passengers, many of whom are flights overflying France to various destinations.