Travel Chaos: Heading To France on May 1

France is bracing for a new wave of strikes and protests. France's civil aviation authority has warned travellers to expect disruption as air traffic controllers plan a May 1st strike.

The walkout could affect both incoming and outgoing flights in France or those passing over French airspace from the evening of 31 April to 6 AM on 02 May.

At the moment, services including trains and French city public transport will run as normal on May 1st which is a public holiday in France, and much of Europe.

A strike by the UK Border Force on 28 April is likely to compound difficulties for travellers attempting to cross the Channel at the start of the long weekend.

In updated travel advice for France, the UK Foreign Office stated that trade unions have announced “large-scale demonstrations and co-ordinated industrial action” on 1 May.

“Industrial action may start the evening before the strike day and run for several days,” the travel alert said.

“You should monitor the media, check the latest advice with operators before travelling, avoid demonstrations and follow the advice of local authorities.”

It is not known when the strike may end.

Strikes Impact On Tourism

EasyJet’s CEO Johan Lundgren has complained about the recent air traffic controller (ATC) strikes in France, saying the consequences are “completely unacceptable”.

In an interview with Agence France Press, he stressed that authorities should address the underlying issues before tourists start to choose other locations. “The strikes will have a dampening effect on demand,” he noted, adding that he had written to the French transport minister and aviation regulator to request an increase in the “minimum service level” guaranteed during the strikes.

According to reports, France was one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world from 2014 to 2019,

What are your thoughts on this issue? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

Check out the deals we have found below and tell us your travel plans.

Check out the offers and discounts from:

And because of the pandemic, don’t forget to get your travel insurance, which will cover you for flight disruptions and pandemic related matters.

IaM can help with your visa application to Europe, the United States, the UK & other countries

If you need help with a US visa, a UK Visa, or a visa to Europe, including help with appointment booking obligations, IaM can help. For more information and advice on US immigration, UK immigration law and US visa applications or if you need any help or assistance please, reach out to your Visa Coordinator at IaM.

Some of our posts include affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of these products, we might get a small commission. For more information, check out our TOS.