Paris Airport Staff Call Off Strike Ahead Of Olympic Games

Paris airport workers have called off a planned strike that threatened to disrupt travel just before the start of 2024 Olympic Games.

The decision followed successful negotiations on bonuses, confirmed by both labour unions and airport management on Tuesday.

The agreement was reached between three representative unions and Aéroports de Paris (ADP) management, which is majority-owned by the French state at 50.6 per cent. “We’re lifting the strike warning, there’s a majority deal,” announced Rachid Eddaidj, secretary general of the CFDT union’s branch at Paris Airports (ADP).

The Unions had initially called for a work stoppage on Wednesday to demand larger Olympic bonuses and additional staff recruitment. However, they have now secured a “standardised bonus for every worker at ADP” along with extra compensation for those assisting with Olympic delegations and their baggage, according to ADP management.

Paris’ main airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, operated by ADP, along with the city’s train stations, will serve as primary entry points for foreign visitors, athletes, and their equipment during the Olympics. To accommodate the influx, ADP has invested 50 million euros ($54 million) in infrastructure upgrades, and French authorities are deploying additional resources to ensure a smooth and secure experience.

Charles de Gaulle Airport is preparing for peak days with up to 300,000 travellers, significantly higher than the summer daily average of 200,000. The busiest period is anticipated to be after the Olympics closing ceremony on August 11, when spectators, officials, and most of the 10,000 athletes are expected to depart Paris.

To further assist travellers, multilingual “welcome teams” will be available at train stations to provide travel advice and ticketing information. Additionally, police will intensify patrols to guard against pickpockets.