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Travel uncertainty across Europe

Friday, February 26, 2010

Source: Catherine Deshayes

Holidaymakers are facing more travel uncertainty today as a wave of industrial action sweeps across Europe...

As passengers wait to hear whether planned BA strikes will go ahead in the next month or so, others with more pressing holiday dates are watching the news to hear about the latest Lufthansa pilot strikes, French air traffic control action and a nationwide halt to business in Greece.

After a winter of travel chaos caused by freezing weather across Europe affecting planes, trains and roads, further hindrance to international travel is the last thing the beleagured industry needs.

Those hoping to avoid recent Eurostar problems by taking a plane to Paris could well have their travel delayed or cancelled due to a five-day air traffic controller strike which started yesterday.

A quarter of flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle, a major international hub, have been cancelled, along with around half out of Paris Orly, which mainly serves domestic routes and French territories overseas.

French unions are protesting at a merger of Belgian, Dutch, French, German, Luxembourg and Swiss air traffic control networks which could see French workers lose their generous perks which includes 30 weeks holiday a year.

In Greece, industrial action has become nationwide, grounding planes for at least the next 24 hours and closing major tourists attractions. The action is in protest at the EU-backed austerity measures aimed to cut Greece's ever-increasing deficit. Both public and private sector workers have joined forces in a walkout involving millions of people.

The country's airspace is closed to flights with deserted airports listing every flight as cancelled. Trains and ferries have also been stopped for the day and anyone stranded in the country hoping to pass the time visiting archeological sites will be disappointed to find doors closed.

A ray of hope in the continuing misery was the announcement by the Lufthansa pilots union that the four-day strike had been called off less than 24 hours after it began.

It will still take until Friday for all flights to return to normal, but regular take-offs have begun. A 'special timetable' for the next couple of days has been listed on its website http://www.lufthansa.com/.

However, travellers are warned that the industrial action has not been cancelled outright, but simply postponed until March 8, pending talks.

The airline is thought to have lost around £20 million for just the one day of strikes with 10,000 passengers disrupted.

Meanwhile, up to 2.5 million BA passengers have been plunged into uncertainty as the Unite union claims it will not announce strike dates at a meeting on Thursday as planned.

While negotiations with BA continue, the union is reluctant to confirm a date for the strike which leaves many passengers in the dark about their travel plans in the lead up to Easter.

Ken Ablard, spokesman for the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA) arm of Unite, said: "We have not issued a date because we don't want [to strike].

"Hopefully, with the overwhelming majority voting for action, BA will now listen."

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

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