The Association of Air Traffic Controller’s Unions (USYCAA) “has started a national strike quite apart from the banning of the protest by all the judiciary,” the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar stated on the 23rd of September 2022.
Flight strike in Western & Central Africa
Flights both into and out of Western and Central Africa were grounded on Friday due to an air traffic control strike, creating confusion for travellers heading to Europe, the US, and other parts of the continent.
In defiance of court orders and government restrictions, employees at the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), which oversees air traffic control in 18 countries, went on strike on Friday over issues with working hours and compensation.
Arrivals and departures in and out of Brussels and Washington, D.C. were delayed until the afternoon of 23rd September 2022, a major traffic period, according to Reuters reporters at Dakar’s Pierre Diagne Airport Terminal and in the USA.
Airways and travellers reported that aeroplanes within Gaborone have also been disrupted.
Travellers were advised by the African agency for air traffic control to monitor flight webpages for information.
The  chief of her department at the Association of Air Traffic Controller’s Unions “has started a national strike apart from the banning of the protest by all the judiciary,” the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar stated on the 23rd of September 2022.
The USYCAA union announced in a declaration that until these demands have been met, its employees would stop accepting all but “essential” airlines. A representative of the striking Senegalese aviation, Paul Francois Gomis, revealed that several representatives had indeed been detained for having participated in the strike in Yaoundé, Kinshasa, and Moroni.
Associated press correspondents indicated that as a consequence of the action, Air Senegal had stopped numerous aircraft. A statement from the aircraft wasn’t able to be obtained right away. As per guests, planes towards Washington, D.C., Lisbon, and Ankara were affected.
According to the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar, the court of Dakar on 22nd September 2022 postponed the request for a boycott by air traffic control operators in Dakar and Yamoussoukro.
Throughout particular instances, the boycott would extend, Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar had given a statement that they have established a fallback system to enable airline companies to use alternative solutions if certain hubs are disrupted by momentary workforce shortages.
Its association representing air traffic control operators in West and Central African countries declared on Saturday that a three consecutive day strike had just been terminated.
Thousands and thousands of travelers were left stuck at airport terminals on Saturday as a consequence of the protest, which commenced on Friday.
The Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Unions, also called the national strike, declared that it has chosen to instantly postpone its stop for ten days to simplify discussions.
Commencing on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 1200 Greenwich Meridian Time, air navigation services will be made available in every terminal and international airspace that Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar manages, according to the announcement.
Over 700 air traffic controllers, according to the organization, actively participated in the walkout to call for decent employment and remuneration arrangements.
The operators are employed by the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar, an organization made up of 18 member states that regulate air traffic throughout a 16 million standard cubic km sky area.
Aerodrome operations in the region happened to come to a complete standstill as officials worked to maintain certain airlines’ relevant domain of operation.
The Airport terminal in Yaoundé had seen hundreds of travellers stuck there early on 24th September 2022, as per local broadcaster the Cameroon Radio Television. On 23rd September 2022, the largest airline Camair-Co confirmed that every one of its operations had been suspended owing to the dispute. Passenger Nsoh Brinston, who was supposed to travel to Rwanda, claims that the journey has been cancelled.
As per the latest news which was published today, the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), has decided to resume all flights which are going to Central and West Africa after the strike finishes.
