Libreville airport paralysed by strike

Operations at Libreville International Airport (FOOL/LBV) were paralysed on 21 July 2008 due to a strike by air traffic traffic controllers of the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) over an ongoing wage dispute. The strike -- which was part of a series of 24-hour renewable strikes -- grounded all flights in Libreville that had not taken off by 0700 local time (0600 UTC); no flights were permitted to land in Libreville after this time as well. Union officials stated that the air traffic controllers are demanding the payment of overdue premiums. ASECNA is mainly charged with overseeing operations in airports and airfields in most French-speaking African countries and Madagascar and has been experiencing recent financial trouble.