Geneva — Some 59 flights were cancelled at Geneva’s international airport on Friday, it said, after operations were halted for four hours because of a strike by workers at the start of the busy summer travel season.
“Because of the social action… the direction decided a temporary halt of operations from 6:00 am to 10:00 am (04:00 GMT and 08:00 GMT),” the airport said in a tweet early on Friday. “59 flights – arrivals and departures – cancelled.”
An airport spokesman said on Thursday that some 8 000 passengers were estimated to be affected by the cancellations at Switzerland’s second airport, a key hub for the EasyJet budget carrier.
The strike was called after the airport’s board approved on Thursday a new wage policy contested by staff.
En raison d’un mouvement social d’une partie du personnel de Genève Aéroport (GA), la direction a décidé un arrêt temporaire des opérations de 06h00 à 10h00. 59 vols – départs et arrivées – annulés. Situation 05h00. GA regrette vivement cette situation et présente ses excuses.
— Genève Aéroport (@GeneveAeroport) June 30, 2023
TWEET TRANSLATION: Due to a social movement by part of the personnel of Genève Aéroport (GA), management has decided to temporarily halt operations from 06:00 to 10:00. 59 flights – departures and arrivals – cancelled. Location 05:00. GA deeply regrets this situation and apologizes.
Nearly 6.8 million passengers used the airport between January and May, according to official statistics.
The aviation industry has been keen to avoid a repeat of the chaos seen at European airports last year.
The sector struggled to cope with a surge in travel as it was severely understaffed after laying off thousands during the Covid pandemic.
Passengers faced huge lines, misplaced luggage and flight delays.
Other European airports and airlines have also faced strikes by staff.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Source: AFP
Picture: Pixabay
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
