UAE - Paris flights not affected by French national strike

Dubai: France's national strike drew in some air traffic controllers prompting the country's Civil Aviation Authority to limit the number of flights in and out of Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) airport.

The French Unions are striking in protest of the government's proposal raising the retirement and state pension ages, from 60 to 62 and 65 to 67 respectively. The effect on public transport, rail and buses is limited up to now.

Despite expectations that 50 per cent of flights would be cancelled yesterday — also affecting Paris Orly, CDG airports — Air France said it would mainly affect local and European flights.

The airline said it planned to operate all long-haul flights, including those to and from the UAE. Emirates and Etihad also did not change their scheduled flights. Its flight from Dubai, AF3831, and Abu Dhabi, AF3849, to Paris landed this morning on time at CDG. And its flight, AF3830, to Dubai at 1.35 pm and AF3848 to Abu Dhabi at 1.45 pm (Paris time) are both scheduled to leave as planned.

Etihad's first flight EY31 to Paris left at 2.05 am Abu Dhabi time yesterday and landed in ParisCDG, the airline said.