Traffic controllers begin strike, leaves air travellers stranded

Numerous flights have been cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers across West Africa stuck at airports. This occurred during a 48-hour walkout by the workers of the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA). The Agency is in charge of overseeing air traffic control in 18 nations, including Nigeria.

Staff at the agency are alleged to have stopped working on Friday as a result of a dispute over pay and working conditions, disregarding government and court orders prohibiting them from doing so.

Flights into and out of West and Central Africa have been grounded as a result of the strike, creating chaos for passengers heading to Europe, the United States, and other parts of Africa.

In the event that there is a quick intervention to avert the crisis, Nairametrics has learned that the strike will last for 48 hours.

Announcing the development to a group of Nigerians who were scheduled to depart Johannesburg to Lagos on Friday, an official of Asky Airline that was expected to take off from the O.R. Tambo International Airport early Saturday morning to Lagos said to passengers who were already being checked in: “We are sorry, we have bad news. Your flight has been cancelled because air traffic controllers are on strike. We will contact you when we are able to fly.” 

On Friday night, major airline check-in counters at South Africa's O.R. Tambo International Airport were desolate because so many ticketing agents had abandoned their jobs.

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