French aviation authority DGAC has asked airlines to cancel half of their flights on Friday 16 September, following the submission of strike notice by air traffic controllers.
The aviation authority said on Twitter that the strike would severely disrupt air traffic across France from 6.00 a.m. on Friday to 6.00 a.m. on Saturday.
In a statement, it called on airlines to "reduce their flight programme by 50%," adding that, even with the requested intervention and despite a minimal service, cancellations and serious delays were still to be expected.
DGAC also called on passengers to postpone their trips if possible and to inquire with their airlines about the status of their flights.
The strike could also affect European air traffic, especially flights that normally pass over France.
The DGAC said it was in talks with the European air traffic controller, Eurocontrol, to propose measures to the airlines to bypass French airspace.
The strike notice was filed by the Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien (SNCTA), the largest union of air traffic controllers in France.
The SNCTA is demanding guarantees regarding compensation for high inflation and future recruitment, since "a third of the staff will retire between 2029 and 2035," the union said on its website.
