France: National transportation strikes March 21-23 /update 3

Event

Various public sector and airline personnel unions have called for strikes to take place between Wednesday, March 21, and Friday, March 23. Air traffic controllers will be on strike nationwide from 19:00 (local time) on March 21 to 06:00 on March 23. Employees at the SNCF, the national rail operator, and the RATP, the Parisian metro and commuter train (RER) operator, will also join the strike on March 22 - although their schedules have yet to be released. On March 22-23, pilots at the airline Hop!, a subsidiary of Air France, will strike, while pilots, flight attendants, and ground crew staff at Air France and Air France subsidiary Joon are planning to strike on March 23. Air France pilots also voted in favor of a long-term strike, continuing past March 23 if necessary. Significant disruptions to air, rail, and public transit services are to be anticipated throughout this period. Increased road congestion is also likely in the Paris region during the public transit strike.

Associated protests are expected to take place on March 22 in Paris.

Advice

Individuals in France are advised to confirm their travel itineraries and to allow for extra time to reach their destinations.