France’s largest air traffic control union, the SNCTA, has announced a 24-hour strike scheduled to begin on the morning of 18 September 2025 and continue until the end of 19 September. The union, which represents around 60 per cent of the country’s air traffic controllers, had not participated in the July strikes, leading to concerns that this action could cause more significant disruptions for thousands of passengers.
The industrial action that took place from 3 to 4 July caused chaos across Europe, impacting over a million passengers and resulting in thousands of flight cancellations, according to the European aviation coordinator Eurocontrol. Low-cost airline Ryanair claimed the strikes cost airlines more than €100 million, blaming the disruption on “hopeless mismanagement.”
The upcoming September strike has been organised in opposition to Prime Minister François Bayrou’s proposed 2026 budget. The protest is still scheduled to occur, even if he is removed from power by a vote of no confidence on 8 September.
📣French unions are standing up against the #Bayrou budget!
— EPSU (@EPSUnions) September 2, 2025
❌ Wage freezes
❌ Removal of 2 public holidays
❌ Cuts to public services
Brutal. Unfair. Unacceptable.
✊🏾 EPSU stands in #solidarité with your nation-wide mobilisation on 18 September! pic.twitter.com/WyXuZXRkag
The announcement came after what the union described as a “complete breakdown” in a dialogue with France’s Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC). The union released a statement accusing the DGAC of using “mistrust, punitive practices, and degrading management methods” and stated that unproductive talks had halted any possibility of moving forward.
The SNCTA says it is taking this approach as a last resort, demanding wage adjustments for inflation and major changes in how the DGAC manages operations. In its statement, the union noted that it had previously “favoured social dialogue and made concrete proposals.”
The approaching strike is expected to disrupt thousands of flights regardless of whether other unions decide to participate. The decision was made after a meeting between the unions on 29 August, where they discussed plans for the following months. While not all eight unions will support the citizen-led action on 20 September, even though the more radical CGT and Solidaires unions have expressed their backing, they will all participate in a unified protest the following week.
Due to the air traffic controller strike in France, #Vueling cares little about passengers and sends them to a big caos one queue in check-ins 800 at Barcelona Airport "We are working to minimize the impact," …are you jocking? Use speakers!!Organize!! Offer solutions!!Explain!! pic.twitter.com/P7K8pn0vyz
— Francesc Mas (@francescmas) July 3, 2025
Passengers with flights during the strike are advised to keep in touch with their service provider for the latest information. They should also be prepared for potential delays and cancellations across Europe. Specific details regarding flight cancellations are not available yet, but the DGAC is expected to release more information two days before the strike begins.
Both flights arriving and departing from France, as well as those passing through French airspace, including routes from Italy, Spain, and the UK, are expected to face disruptions.
