Air traffic above, to and from France has been highly affected on Sunday morning after a failure of the common computer and communication systems. As a result, several thousands of messages – communications between airlines/ aircraft/ airports to French ATC – are queuing up. The French are working to resolve the technical problems.
Air traffic authorities have significantly reduced capacity in the following air traffic control areas (ACC): Marseille, Bordeaux, Paris, Reims and Brest. High delays are expected at Paris CDG airport, France’s biggest airport.
On social media, passengers complained about their long delays while waiting on board: delays of over three hours are currently not uncommon. The delays not only affect flights to and from France, but also e.g. between Spain and United Kingdom, were one passenger told her flight from Malaga to Manchester was delayed by two hours.
Update 10:00 (UTC +2): the computer systems are now in recovery modus, French air traffic control will gradually increase the capacity. Delays, however, will be possible as back log traffic needs to be cleared.
Passengers rushed to Twitter to comment about their delay
Air traffic control system down across all of France. @easyJet pilot on flight to Lisbon EZY6253 has just given a wonderful and empathic explanation to passengers. Leaving us informed and understanding of the issues and possible solutions. Great management and people skills.
— thebee_uk (@thebee_uk) September 1, 2019
Last time I flew to France – the flight was cancelled. This time we are on the plane but won’t be taking off for 2 hours due to a dodgey computer in France air traffic. Now someone has passed out and is a medical emergency. Next time I am going to Italy. #bored #late
— THFCFaNaTiCaL (@steffenfreund3) September 1, 2019
@eurocontrol flight to Manchester grounded at Malaga airport due to air traffic control in France??? Any updates? Stuck on a grounded plane for 2hrs ?
— toyha mccarrick (@no1phoenix) September 1, 2019
Really don’t need this shite today. Air traffic control restrictions in France delaying this flight for 3.5 hours and I’m having to sit in the plane because we’ve already boarded.
— Paul Lawlor (@paullawlor23) September 1, 2019
@Ryanair don’t even have the guts to tell passengers it a strike! They blamed air traffic control in France. Pathetic! https://t.co/N28lvzdXnj
— Lindsey Crabtree (@LindsMarieCrab) September 1, 2019
@Gatwick_Airport any updates on EZY8989? Been told that there are air traffic problems in France but there seems to be no info online
— Alex Potter (@AlexPotter1993) September 1, 2019
[…] 1 September 2019, after a failure of the common computer and communication systems, French airport authority had significantly reduced flights capacity in several of its airports (Marseille, Bordeaux, Paris, Reims and Brest. HERE. […]