Air, rail strikes hit MipTV delegates

The Palais des Festivals pictured during Mipcom 2017

MIPTV: Delegates making their way home from MipTV could be hit by further strike action affecting France’s major air and rail carriers over the coming days.

Air France is set to cut around 30% of flights from its schedule tomorrow, with only 60% of long-haul flights expected to go ahead.

Around 65% of medium-haul flights to and from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport will operate, with 75% of its short-haul flights between Paris-Orly and French provinces operational.

The airline said its “flight schedule for Wednesday is currently ongoing. Last-minute delays and cancellations can be expected.” Further information can be found here.

Passengers booked on an Air France flight tomorrow have been advised they can rebook at no extra cost.

Direct train services to Paris will also be affected from Friday as staff at state-owned rail operator SNCF prepare for a two-day strike. At present, only three of the normal seven direct services from Cannes to Paris are expected to run.

SNCF has advised travellers to check the schedule prior to the day of departure, while passengers with pre-booked journeys can check their bookings here.

The action also impacts Eurostar services. Around 20% of trains are expected to be cancelled on Friday and Saturday, with 12 services on the London to Paris route already cancelled. Further information can be found here.

Passengers due to travel on an affected service can exchange tickets free of charge or claim a full refund regardless of ticket conditions.

Thalys trains between Paris and Brussels are also affected, with numerous services cancelled each day this week. Click here for more information.

Those heading back to Germany could also face issues, with strike action at the country’s airports affecting national carrier Lufthansa. The airline has cancelled around half its scheduled flights, but it expects normal service to resume from tomorrow.