3-day strike to hit Tunisian airports next week

Tunisia's General Transportation Confederation (FGTT) has announced a general strike covering all Civil Aviation and Airports Authority (OACA) airports and offices over the period March 18–20. In further bad news for Tunisian aviation, a Tunisair flight operating the Djerba–Paris line meanwhile got stuck in the snow whilst landing at Paris Orly Airport on Tuesday. None of the 140 passengers on board the A320 Airbus stuck at the Paris Orly Airport were hurt and they all deplaned safely, Tunisair reported. French aviation authorities asked carriers to reduce flights by 20-25 percent due to the bad weather in the European country and the backed-up schedule of flights to and from France. Jamel Fehani, the secretary-general of the OACA workers' syndicate, said the strike will be carried out over the authorities' "stalling" in instituting the raise approved for air traffic controllers. OACA public relations officer Sami Sabet said dialogue is the only way the strike can be avoided and added: "This strike must not take place because it would have a negative impact on air travel."