French air traffic controllers' strike disrupts flights for second day
Civil aviation agency DGAC told airlines to cancel 40% of flights at the three main Paris airports on Friday because of the strike, which the air traffic controllers say is over staff shortages and ageing equipment.
Up to half of flights at France's other airports, mostly in the south, were also affected, DGAC added.
"We are hostages of Paris," said Mariano Mignola, an Italian tourist stranded in the French capital's Orly airport with two young children.
"Today we had to go home and the first available flight is July 8. We have no flat, we can't find a hotel, we can't find a car, we can't find a train, we can't find anything," he said. "We are in a panic, the children are scared and we don't know what to do."
French transport minister Philippe Tabarot called the strike unacceptable as did Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, who branded it "another recreational strike by French air traffic controllers' unions".
On top of the cancellations, DGAC warned that passengers could be affected by delays and significant disruption.
The Airlines for Europe (A4E) lobby group said late on Thursday that 1,500 flights had been cancelled over the two-day strike, affecting 300,000 passengers and causing cascading delays.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Overtourism: Why Does Spain Face More Tourism Backlash Than France?
Provence—Why is it that France is the most visited country in the world, but has minimal backlash against overtourism? getty Tourism is booming in Europe. The George Washington University revealed that in 2024, 747 million travelers visited Europe, more than the population of Europe itself, and this inevitably puts a "strain on local infrastructure, environment, and communities." France and Spain receive the most. Yet, despite welcoming a similar number of visitors, Spain has seen far more local opposition to tourism than France. From protests in Barcelona to banners in Ibiza, Spanish locals are voicing their frustrations. Meanwhile, France, known for its frequent demonstrations against many things, has remained relatively quiet. Why? France topped the list again in 2024 as the most-visited country in the world, with a record 100 million travelers passing through its borders, resulting in a 12% year-on-year increase in tourist earnings. Furthermore, the latest data from the World Travel and Tourism Council suggests that France is on track to surpass its records in 2025. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: "France continues to set the pace for Travel & Tourism worldwide. After a historic 2024, the sector is expected to maintain its growth into 2025 and beyond." Much of this increase can be attributed to the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in summer 2024, which showcased France as a backdrop to every race. The WTTC predicts that the tourism sector will employ one in ten people in France in 2025. Spain was only six million people short of this figure, and still reached 94 million travelers and a 10% year-on-year increase in takings. So, Why Are Spanish Locals Protesting, And Not the French? So, why are Spanish locals more vociferous in their opposition to increased tourism? At the same time, France, notwithstanding a recent strike at the Louvre against unmanageable crowds, has seen relatively little protests. And this is in a country that is known for its frequent demonstrations. Throughout 2024, Spanish locals ran coordinated protests against tourists in cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, as well as the bustling Canary Islands. In mid-June 2025, thousands of people took to the streets across Madrid and Barcelona to protest, shouting "Your holidays, my misery" and holding up banners that read "Mass tourism kills the city" and "Their greed brings us ruin." Protesters also took part across the country, in locations such as Ibiza, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, San Sebastián, and Granada. France Has A Very Different Tourist Set-Up From Spain There are several reasons, however, that might explain why France has seen comparatively little local resistance to tourism. Notably, a significant portion of France's tourism is domestic. French residents contribute between 50% and 70% of the country's tourism revenue, commonly spending their holidays traveling across their own country. Helped by the fact that France has access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and mountain ranges in the Alps and the Pyrenees. The rest of France's visitors arrive predominantly from Belgium, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and the U.S. The number of Asian visitors remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels, with Chinese visitors still 60% down from their pre-pandemic figures. Statistics sometimes inflate international tourist numbers because France serves as a significant transit hub between northern and southern Europe. The statistics also show that tourists are spending more when they visit Spain, prompting French Tourism Minister Nathalie Delattre to state in early 2025 that one of France's tourism objectives is to encourage visitors to spend more and stay longer. French visitors spent around $74 billion in 2024 (€71 billion), whereas tourists to Spain spent $148 billion (€126 billion). More extended stays might make locals more hostile? France and Spain have both been strict about clamping down on Airbnb and other short-term rentals, but geography also plays a part. They are around the same size in terms of land; France is only 9% larger. In terms of population, France had approximately 69 million residents and Spain had just over 46 million in 2021. However, there are large swathes of Spain that lie uninhabited because they are simply less hospitable to residents than other parts of Spain, and this puts an undeniable pressure on resources in cities and along the coast. While France has many of its residents in the Ile-de-France region (around Paris), it also has more cities distributed across the center of the country, such as Lyon, Toulouse, and Strasbourg. Due to its geography and history, might it also have a more diverse tourist base? They visit Paris, yes, but also different regions for the Champagne, the castles in the Loire, the skiing in the Alps, and they head to Provence and the Mediterranean. So, while the bulk of tourists visit the same sites, such as Paris, Étretat, and Mont Saint-Michel, perhaps it's less of an issue overall? MORE FROM FORBES Forbes The Five Safest Countries In The World, Per 2025 Global Peace Index By Alex Ledsom Forbes What It Means To Be Wealthy In Brazil By Alex Ledsom Forbes Portugal Golden Visa: Government Plans To Enhance Incentives By Alex Ledsom
CNN
4 hours ago
- CNN
Joyful Parisians take a historic plunge into the Seine after 100 years
For the first time in over a century, Parisians and tourists will be able to take a refreshing dip in the River Seine. The long-polluted waterway is finally opening up as a summertime swim spot following a 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) cleanup project that made it suitable for Olympic competitions last year. Three new swimming sites on the Paris riverbank will open on Saturday – one close to Notre Dame Cathedral, another near the Eiffel Tower and a third in eastern Paris. Swimming in the Seine has been illegal since 1923, with a few exceptions, due to pollution and risks posed by river navigation. Taking a dip outside bathing areas is still banned for safety reasons. The Seine was one of the stars of the Paris Olympics in 2024, whether as the scene of the ambitious opening ceremony or the triathlon and marathon swimming competitions. That didn't go without challenging hurdles such as rainfall increasing levels of bacteria, which postponed some competitions. The city's authorities have given the green light for the public opening, with water quality results consistently in line with European regulations. 'It's a symbolic moment when we get our river back,' said sports coach and influencer Lucile Woodward, who will participate in the first amateur open water competition in the Seine on Sunday. Woodward, who enjoyed a dip alongside Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo just before the start of the Olympic Games, is confident things will go well. 'We're going to enjoy swimming in it, being there and setting an example,' she said. 'Once people will see that in the end there are hundreds of people who have fun and enjoy it, everyone will want to go!' 'For families, going to take a dip with the kids, making little splashes in Paris, it's extraordinary,' Woodward added. Olympic athletes competing in the river was a spectacular reward for the cost of the cleanup effort. In the run-up to the Games, authorities opened new disinfection units and created a huge storage basin meant to prevent as much bacteria-laden wastewater as possible from spilling directly into the Seine when it rains. Houseboats that previously emptied their sewage directly into the river were required to hook up to municipal sewer systems. Some homes upstream from Paris also saw their wastewater connected to treatment plants instead of the rainwater system flowing directly into the river. Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan said water is tested daily to confirm it's safe to swim. As on French beaches, different colored flags will inform visitors whether or not they can go in. 'Green means the water quality is good. Red means that it's not good or that there's too much current,' he said. Tests have been in line with European regulations since the beginning of June, with only two exceptions due to rain and boat-related pollution, Rabadan said. 'I can't make a bet on the numbers of days when we'll have to close this summer, but water quality seems better than last year,' he added. 'We're in a natural environment… so weather condition variations necessarily have an impact.' Last year, several athletes became ill after competing in the triathlon and open water races during the Olympics, though in most cases it was not clear if the river was to blame for their sickness. World Aquatics stressed the conditions met the sport's accepted thresholds. 'The legacy of these efforts is already evident, with the Seine now open for public swimming – a positive example of how sports can drive long-term community benefits,' the organization said in a statement to The Associated Press. Dan Angelescu, founder and CEO of Fluidion, a Paris and Los Angeles-based water monitoring tech company, has routinely and independently tested bacterial levels in the Seine for several years. Despite being in line with current regulations, the official water testing methodology has limitations and undercounts the bacteria, he said. 'What we see is that the water quality in the Seine is highly variable,' Angelescu said. 'There are only a few days in a swimming season where I would say water quality is acceptable for swimming.' 'All we can say is that we can raise a hand and say look: the science today does not support the current assessment of water safety used in the rivers around Paris, and we think that there is major risk that is not being captured at all,' he said. Some Parisians also have shown skepticism toward the idea of swimming in the Seine. The feeling is often reinforced by the water's murky color, floating litter and multiple tourist boats in some places. Enys Mahdjoub, a real estate agent, said he would not be afraid of swimming, but rather 'a bit disgusted. It's more the worry of getting dirty than anything else at the moment.' Until the end of August, swimming sites will be open for free at scheduled times to anyone with a minimum age of 10 or 14 years, depending on the location. Lifeguards will keep a watchful eye on those first dips. 'It's an opportunity, a dream come true,' said Clea Montanari, a project manager in Paris. 'It'd be a dream if the Seine becomes drinkable, that would be the ultimate goal, right? But already swimming in it is really good.'
CNN
4 hours ago
- CNN
Joyful Parisians take a historic plunge into the Seine after 100 years
For the first time in over a century, Parisians and tourists will be able to take a refreshing dip in the River Seine. The long-polluted waterway is finally opening up as a summertime swim spot following a 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) cleanup project that made it suitable for Olympic competitions last year. Three new swimming sites on the Paris riverbank will open on Saturday – one close to Notre Dame Cathedral, another near the Eiffel Tower and a third in eastern Paris. Swimming in the Seine has been illegal since 1923, with a few exceptions, due to pollution and risks posed by river navigation. Taking a dip outside bathing areas is still banned for safety reasons. The Seine was one of the stars of the Paris Olympics in 2024, whether as the scene of the ambitious opening ceremony or the triathlon and marathon swimming competitions. That didn't go without challenging hurdles such as rainfall increasing levels of bacteria, which postponed some competitions. The city's authorities have given the green light for the public opening, with water quality results consistently in line with European regulations. 'It's a symbolic moment when we get our river back,' said sports coach and influencer Lucile Woodward, who will participate in the first amateur open water competition in the Seine on Sunday. Woodward, who enjoyed a dip alongside Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo just before the start of the Olympic Games, is confident things will go well. 'We're going to enjoy swimming in it, being there and setting an example,' she said. 'Once people will see that in the end there are hundreds of people who have fun and enjoy it, everyone will want to go!' 'For families, going to take a dip with the kids, making little splashes in Paris, it's extraordinary,' Woodward added. Olympic athletes competing in the river was a spectacular reward for the cost of the cleanup effort. In the run-up to the Games, authorities opened new disinfection units and created a huge storage basin meant to prevent as much bacteria-laden wastewater as possible from spilling directly into the Seine when it rains. Houseboats that previously emptied their sewage directly into the river were required to hook up to municipal sewer systems. Some homes upstream from Paris also saw their wastewater connected to treatment plants instead of the rainwater system flowing directly into the river. Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan said water is tested daily to confirm it's safe to swim. As on French beaches, different colored flags will inform visitors whether or not they can go in. 'Green means the water quality is good. Red means that it's not good or that there's too much current,' he said. Tests have been in line with European regulations since the beginning of June, with only two exceptions due to rain and boat-related pollution, Rabadan said. 'I can't make a bet on the numbers of days when we'll have to close this summer, but water quality seems better than last year,' he added. 'We're in a natural environment… so weather condition variations necessarily have an impact.' Last year, several athletes became ill after competing in the triathlon and open water races during the Olympics, though in most cases it was not clear if the river was to blame for their sickness. World Aquatics stressed the conditions met the sport's accepted thresholds. 'The legacy of these efforts is already evident, with the Seine now open for public swimming – a positive example of how sports can drive long-term community benefits,' the organization said in a statement to The Associated Press. Dan Angelescu, founder and CEO of Fluidion, a Paris and Los Angeles-based water monitoring tech company, has routinely and independently tested bacterial levels in the Seine for several years. Despite being in line with current regulations, the official water testing methodology has limitations and undercounts the bacteria, he said. 'What we see is that the water quality in the Seine is highly variable,' Angelescu said. 'There are only a few days in a swimming season where I would say water quality is acceptable for swimming.' 'All we can say is that we can raise a hand and say look: the science today does not support the current assessment of water safety used in the rivers around Paris, and we think that there is major risk that is not being captured at all,' he said. Some Parisians also have shown skepticism toward the idea of swimming in the Seine. The feeling is often reinforced by the water's murky color, floating litter and multiple tourist boats in some places. Enys Mahdjoub, a real estate agent, said he would not be afraid of swimming, but rather 'a bit disgusted. It's more the worry of getting dirty than anything else at the moment.' Until the end of August, swimming sites will be open for free at scheduled times to anyone with a minimum age of 10 or 14 years, depending on the location. Lifeguards will keep a watchful eye on those first dips. 'It's an opportunity, a dream come true,' said Clea Montanari, a project manager in Paris. 'It'd be a dream if the Seine becomes drinkable, that would be the ultimate goal, right? But already swimming in it is really good.'
