A massive strike by French air traffic controllers has thrown air travel into disarray across the country, particularly at Paris airports, with nearly 40% of flights cancelled and widespread delays impacting tens of thousands of passengers. The strike, led by two major unions—UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT—began on July 3 and continued into July 4, amid peak summer travel, with the unions demanding better staffing, updated infrastructure, and an end to what they call a “toxic” management culture within France’s civil aviation authority.
Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly, and Beauvais airports were among the most affected, witnessing major disruptions as air traffic was slashed. The Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) preemptively asked airlines to cancel 25% of flights on Thursday and 40% on Friday in anticipation of the strike. Regional airports such as Nice saw 50% of their scheduled flights cancelled, while airports in Marseille, Lyon, Montpellier, and Corsican cities experienced reductions of up to 30%. Passengers across the country were left stranded, with many complaining about the lack of alternative transport options and accommodation. One Italian tourist, stuck at Orly with her children, described the situation as chaotic, stating they were in a panic with no place to stay or way to get home.
Airlines were forced to make drastic adjustments to their schedules. Ryanair alone cancelled over 400 flights, affecting approximately 70,000 passengers, while EasyJet and Air France also reported large-scale disruptions. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary condemned the strike as “recreational” and called on the European Union to intervene, pointing out that these strikes not only affect French airspace but also disrupt overflights across Europe. Many airlines echoed the need for urgent reform to the European air traffic control system, which they say is vulnerable to such national disputes.
At the heart of the strike are longstanding grievances. Unions argue that there has been a chronic shortage of staff, an issue worsened by increasing workloads and outdated technology. The situation came to a head recently following a technical failure at Paris-Orly and a near-miss incident in Bordeaux, which led to management proposing stricter oversight—moves that were not well received by controllers. Union leaders claim the management style has become increasingly authoritarian, with little regard for worker well-being.
The French government and the DGAC have come under criticism for failing to resolve the issue before the summer holiday rush. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot called the strike “unacceptable” given its timing and scale. Despite prior negotiations, the strike indicates a deepening rift between the aviation workforce and the administration. The DGAC continues to advise passengers to stay in touch with airlines and avoid unnecessary travel through July 4, warning that delays and cancellations could persist.
As France remains one of the busiest and most delayed airspaces in Europe, the disruption has triggered wider debate over air traffic management reforms and labor rights. With over 1,500 flights cancelled and more than 300,000 passengers affected over two days, pressure is mounting on both the government and unions to find a resolution before the chaos spills further into the peak holiday season.
