Air traffic control strike affected more than 8,000 passengers, says Lima Chamber of Commerce

The strike carried out by the Unified Union of Air Traffic Controllers of Peru (SUCTA) would have affected more than 8,000 passengers who were stranded on one date key to domestic tourism in the country, as reported by the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL).

It is recalled that this strike began yesterday, Holy Thursday, and affected 45 domestic flights to Cusco, Ayacucho, Trujillo, Arequipa and Tacna. The union had indicated that they had received authorization from the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion (MTPE), but the damage it would cause was not considered.

“The negative impact of a measure accepted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion is not only in terms of the number of tourists stranded or canceled flights, but also in the rapid deterioration of Peru's image abroad, thereby damaging the work of MINCETUR itself through PromPeru, as well as that of the entrepreneurs we assume. the challenge of boosting Peruvian tourism,” Gabriela Fiorini, president of the CCL Tourism Guild, told RPP Noticias.

The CCL reported that these Easter holidays estimated to have an economic movement of S/800 million soles and the mobilization of up to one million national tourists.

These domestic visitors were expected to spend an average of S/700 to S/800 soles during this long holiday. The amount was included in the cost of transportation, food and lodging.

“Significant values for the Peruvian economy, given that tourism is the third most important sector after mining and agriculture, as it is an important generator of jobs and source of income,” Fiorini said.

It is recalled that SUCTA and officials of the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (Corpac) reached an agreement to to lift the strike on Thursday, even though it had been indicated that it would be extended until Saturday. It had been indicated that flights that were canceled due to this strike would be rescheduled, but the airlines were not clear as to when this would take place.

LOSSES AMOUNT TO 40 MILLION

Carlos Canales, president of the Peruvian National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), said that they estimate that there are more than 10,000 people affected by the unemployment air traffic controllers. In addition, they estimate that losses reach S/ 40 million soles, in airline tickets and tourism expenses.

“More than 10 thousand people were unfortunately left without flying. (Were lost) 10 million soles on plane tickets alone and almost 30 million soles in tourist services that have been hired since you arrive at a destination,” he said in conversation with Canal N.

“(In) an irresponsible measure by Minister Betssy Chavez, the strike of the Corpac controllers was declared legal and a fundamental right that is the right to transport was violated. There has also been an inefficiency of Corpac because the controllers were summoned yesterday and the situation could have been prevented,” he added.

In this way, not only did the situation cause economic damage, but also damaged the country's image with international tourists. There is the case of Americans, Mexicans, Colombians and a group of Italians who traveled to regions of Peru, who came on the occasion of Holy Week.

Canales said that many flights that did manage to leave Lima could not land because the airstrips of regions did not have the necessary controllers. He noted that on other occasions there had been the participation of the Armed Forces, which managed to make up for the shortage of personnel. However, this time this was not the case and the flights had to return to Lima.

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