France faces widespread flight chaos as controllers demand better conditions

Two major air traffic controllers’ unions have escalated their industrial action, calling for strikes on 3-4 July that are set to severely disrupt air travel across France, particularly impacting Paris and the southern regions.

The strike, aimed at defending working conditions, has prompted the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) to mandate airlines to cancel a substantial portion of their flights, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

On the second day of this ongoing labor unrest, the DGAC announced that airlines must cancel 40% of flights departing from or arriving at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports on July 4, the eve of the summer holiday peak. This directive marks an increase from July 3, when cancellations affected approximately 25% of flights at these major hubs. Similarly, Nice Airport, the country’s third busiest, will see half of its connections suspended on July 4, continuing the level of disruption seen the previous day.

Beauvais Airport, known for its low-cost carriers, will also experience a 40% reduction in flights, while other southern airports including Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, and Corsican airports (Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, and Figari) face cancellations of around 30%.

The strikes follow calls from Unsa-Icna, which secured 17% of votes in the latest professional elections, and Usac-CGT, holding 16%, both citing chronic understaffing, outdated equipment, and “toxic management” as critical issues undermining both safety and operational efficiency. Unsa-Icna expressed disappointment at what it described as political rhetoric overshadowing the real challenges facing the air traffic control sector.

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot firmly rejected the unions’ demands, branding them “unacceptable,” particularly given the timing during a peak travel period. Tabarot dismissed the striking unions as “minority” factions and warned against disrupting the vacation plans of thousands.

Meanwhile, the powerful SNCTA union, representing 60% of controllers, has chosen not to join the strike, though sources indicate that around 270 controllers—roughly 20% of the workforce—have participated in the action on July 3.

Business aviation is also anticipated to suffer significant disruption amid the escalating conflict, adding further strain to France’s already congested airspace. 

By Vafa Guliyeva