The second day of a strike by French air traffic controllers, led by the UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT trade unions, has continued to wreak havoc on air travel across France and Europe, following the cancellation of over 1,500 flights on Thursday, 3 July.
Airlines for Europe have called by intervention by BCasualties include seven rotations at Dublin airport:
- Paris CDG EI524@09.50 & inbound EI525
- Paris CDG AF1817@15.55 & inbound AF1816
- Nice FR1958@16.45 & inbound FR1959
- Paris CDG EI528@18.20 & inbound EI527
- Nantes FR1986@18.50 & inbound FR1987
- Beauvais FR1860@20.20 & inbound FR1861
- Orly TO7909@20.20 & inbound TR7908
The industrial action, timed to coincide with the start of the summer holiday season, has left tens of thousands of passengers stranded or delayed, with airports in Paris and southern France bearing the brunt of the disruptions.
The strike, initiated by UNSA-ICNA, France’s second-largest air traffic controllers’ union, and supported by USAC-CGT, the third-largest, stems from demands for better working conditions, increased staffing, and modernisation of outdated equipment. The unions have also condemned what they describe as a “toxic” and “authoritarian” management culture within the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC).
The largest union, SNCTA, representing approximately 60pc of controllers, has not joined the strike, but the absence of roughly 270 of France’s 1,400 controllers has been sufficient to cause significant chaos.
On Friday, 4 July, the situation has worsened, particularly at Paris’s major airports—Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Beauvais—where the DGAC has mandated a 40pc reduction in flight schedules. This follows Thursday’s cancellations, which saw a quarter of flights at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports grounded, alongside 50pc of flights at Nice, France’s third-largest airport, and 30pc at Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Bastia, and Calvi. The ripple effect has extended beyond France, with flights crossing French airspace, including routes from Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Morocco, facing delays or rerouting through German or Spanish airspace.
Industry body Airlines for Europe (A4E), representing major carriers such as Ryanair, Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways, and EasyJet, estimated that nearly 300,000 travellers would be affected over the two days. Ryanair alone reported cancelling 468 flights, impacting 30,000 passengers, while Air France has adapted its schedule but maintained its long-haul network. EasyJet expressed “deep disappointment” over the disruptions, urging a swift resolution.
russels and five remedies to ongoing French air traffic control disputes:
- Mandatory arbitration before ATC unions can threaten strike action
- A 21-day advance notification of strike action.
- Provision of a 72-hour advance individual notification of participation in industrial action
- Protection of overflights, while ensuring this is not at the expense of departures and arrivals in the country where the strike originates
- A right of redress with Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) for the impact of disruption
Passengers at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports faced long queues and uncertainty on Friday morning, with departure boards displaying a litany of cancellations and delays. At Nice, average delays of 1.5 hours for arrivals and one hour for departures were reported, exacerbating frustrations as the school holidays commenced. Eurocontrol, the European air traffic management body, warned of “significant” delays across the airspace managed by control centres in Marseille, Brest, and Reims.
The unions’ grievances echo those of air traffic controllers elsewhere, including in the United States, where similar concerns over understaffing and ageing infrastructure have been raised. UNSA-ICNA has highlighted chronic staff shortages, the proposed introduction of a clock-in system, and repeated technical failures, such as a recent computer breakdown at Orly, as key issues. USAC-CGT has accused the DGAC of failing to address controllers’ frustrations, stating that the agency’s promises to modernise essential tools have not materialised.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot labelled the unions’ demands “unacceptable,” warning that carriers would incur losses of millions of euros. The DGAC has acknowledged staffing challenges and pointed to a multi-year recruitment plan, but no immediate resolution appears forthcoming. With no further strike notices filed at the time of reporting, the prospect of additional disruptions this summer remains uncertain, dependent on negotiations between the unions and the DGAC.Travellers are advised to check flight statuses with their airlines, explore alternative travel arrangements, and be aware of their EU passenger rights, which may entitle them to compensation or rerouting.
As France’s airports brace for another challenging day, the strike serves as a reminder the fragility of Europe’s air traffic network during peak travel periods.
