Strikes, closed metro stations... an update on transport during the Ascension Bridge

The French understand it well, the Ascension Bridge is an opportunity to take five days off thanks to a single day off. But be careful to anticipate travel, which could become complicated due to several disruptions.

In Île-de-France, certain metro lines will be completely closed. Travelers will therefore have to refer to alternative lines and plan for longer travel times. This is particularly the case on line 7, closed since Monday between Gare de l'Est and as far as Courneuve for the renewal of track switches. This section will only reopen on Monday May 13, according to the RATP. Alternatives are offered to travelers with the strengthening of line 5 during peak hours and the establishment of a substitute bus line between Courneuve and Stalingrad.

In addition to line 7, line 14 is also interrupted from Wednesday May 8 to Sunday May 12, inclusive. The RATP needs these days of closure to the public to permanently connect extended portions to the existing line. The RER A is also not exempt from the work and will be cut in its western part on the same dates as line 14. Four devices must be changed between Rueil-Malmaison and Chatou-Croissy, which results in the interruption of traffic between Le Vésinet Center and Rueil-Malmaison. A replacement shuttle has been planned, with a frequency of 2 to 10 minutes between each transport. Also note that line 6 is closed until May 7 at 12 p.m., between Trocadéro and Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile. No work is at the origin of this shutdown, but rather the state visit of the Chinese president, until Tuesday.

Also read “A hell of a robbery”: these very secret negotiations between the DGAC and air traffic controllers which made it possible to ward off strike threats

In the air, caution is required for Vueling passengers. The union representing French hostesses and stewards has filed a strike notice from May 8 to 12 to demand “fair” negotiations with the management of the Spanish low-cost airline. This notice is “renewable in May and June”, the SNPNC-FO has already warned in a press release, which accuses the management of the company of an “inhumane pace of work” and accuses it of “use of employees under contract other than French. Vueling covers 248 air routes, including 42 in France from Orly, Roissy and six other French airports.

Air Austral employees also threatened to strike from Friday May 10 for a period of 5 days. But while discussions are still ongoing with the company's management, the SNPNC-FO has decided to suspend this strike notice until 6 p.m. this Monday. A collective performance agreement for the company must be finalized before Tuesday midnight.

Whether air or rail, the mobilizations and disruptions could have been much greater. The air traffic controllers had thus filed a strike notice from Thursday May 9 to Saturday May 11, which they finally lifted thanks to the progress of negotiations with the General Directorate of Civil Aviation. The SUD-Rail union also lifted a strike notice for the month of May. If the railway workers decided to no longer strike, it is in particular thanks to an agreement signed with the management of the SNCF regarding the gradual termination of their careers.

If your flight is canceled by an airline, you have the option of claiming lump sum compensation. According to a European regulation, you are entitled to 250 euros for flights up to 2500 kilometers, 400 euros for those up to 3500 kilometers and 600 euros for those beyond 3500 kilometers.