French tour operators say Thursday "
fear the worst
" in airports this summer due to "
disorganization
" and strikes that generate flight delays and cancellations, and challenge Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.
“
While the peak of the summer season has not yet begun, these disruptions raise fears of the worst for the holidays and travel of French men and women
”, deplore in a joint press release the Entreprises du Voyage (EDV), the union tour-operating companies (Seto) and the APST, the guarantee fund for travel agencies.
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In a letter addressed to Élisabeth Borne, they "
alert her to the situation of severe disruption observed for many weeks in French and European airports: massive cancellations of flights by airlines, difficulties in getting through security checks and the Schengen borders
”.
“
The first problem is the massive cancellation of flights by certain airlines
”, which “
cause postponements
” reducing the time on site for French and foreign holidaymakers but also “
a dead loss and extra work for operators trips
,” they lament.
“Difficulties encountered at security crossings”
Without forgetting that when the postponement is not possible "
and when the airlines do not respect the 7-day deadline required for reimbursements, the French find themselves in the economic inability to organize a new vacation project
", denounce the tour operators.
They also deplore “
the difficulties encountered at security checkpoints at airports, forcing travel operators to bring their customers three hours before departure.
It would seem that this situation results from the understaffing of the control services
”.
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“
The entire profession has been mobilized for months to meet travel aspirations.
It is now necessary that the infrastructures are up to the task and that the holidays and trips of French people and foreigners who have chosen France as their destination go as well as possible
”, underline the representatives of the sector.
Several strikes for wages are planned or already underway at French airports, including Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly near Paris, with the key to possible delays or cancellation of flights one week away from summer school holidays.