KM Malta Airlines cancels flights between Malta and Paris on Thursday due to air traffic control strike

KM Malta Airlines has officially cancelled flights between Malta and two airports in Paris for Thursday 25th April 2024 due to a national air traffic control (ATC) strike in France.

The airline stated that flights KM478/KM479 between Malta and Paris Charles de Gaulle, as well as KM466/KM467 between Malta and Paris Orly have both been cancelled.

KM Malta Airlines informed customers booked on these flights that they will be able to either rebook to travel on an alternative flight or receive a full ticket refund. Those opting for the former can contact KM Malta Airlines Customer Service Centre on +356 21356000, while those opting for the latter can fill in an online refund form.

For any flights booked through a travel agent, customers should contact their respective travel agent who can then submit a refund request on their behalf.

The airline also said that flights KM454/455 operating between Malta and Lyon will continue to operate as planned, yet are expected to incur an approximate delay of one hour and 20 minutes.

“KM Malta Airlines regrets any inconvenience caused which is completely beyond the airline’s control,” the airline stated.

Unions in France called for a Thursday strike after there was a breakdown in negotiations on salary increases and other measures that formed part of a planned overhaul of France’s ATC system. While the ATC reforms are mainly targeting improvements in productivity, unions feel that changes should also be accompanied by higher salaries.

The main air traffic union has warned that it could order several days of strike action during a busy May weekend should demands not be met.

Additionally, the action has also raised new concerns over the risk of strikes taking place during the Olympic Games, hosted in Paris from late July. Due to the event, hundreds of thousands of extra visitors are expected.

Pascal de Izaguirre, head of FNAM, an umbrella group of French aviation industry unions, said that the strike is going to be “very strongly followed,” with 75 per cent of flights at Paris Orly airport and 65 per cent of those at Charles de Gaulle, possibly being cancelled. He anticipated that regional airports could also be badly affected.

The main air traffic union, SNCTA, also issued a notice that it could also strike on three days, from 9th May to 11th May.