French strikes block Paris airports

French protestors blocked access to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly airports on 20-Oct-2010 as a nationwide strike continued (Associated Press, 20-Oct-2010). 25% of flights from Paris Orly were reportedly cancelled during the morning, due to air traffic controllers striking, while flights operated as normal from Charles de Gaulle (AINonline, 20-Oct-2010). Protestors also shutdown Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport and disrupted operations at Nice Côte d'Azur and Nantes Atlantique airports. Unions also blocked a major fuel depot that supplies fuel to Marseille Provence, Nice Côte d'Azur and Lyon-Saint Exupéry airports (Reuters, 20-Oct-2010). UVair Director of Fuel Supply Jeff Bistany stated fuel supplies in Paris and Nice remain at suitable levels, but airports in outlying areas, including Corsica, are struggling. Ajaccio, Bastia and Calvi airports all have tight fuel supplies. The French Government has now deployed police at fuel depots to break up blockades (Bloomberg, 20-Oct-2010). Air France cancelled some domestic services at Paris Orly on 20-Oct-2010 due to departure limits put in place by the French Civil Aviation Authority. The carrier operated 100% of its long-haul schedule.