Widespread disruption to commercial European aviation is expected on Thursday, 3 July and Friday, 4 July 2025, due to industrial action by French air traffic controllers. The strike notice has led the country’s Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) to ask airlines to reduce schedules by up to 50% at some airports, resulting in a suite of cancelled flights and advice to passengers to check their travel plans with airlines.
The aviation workers, led by UNSA-ICNA union, gave 48-hour warning as required by law, announcing the walkout after the break down of mediation talks between them and DGAC. Issues at stake include chronic under-staffing and a toxic atmosphere in the workplace amid a swathe of unfinished projects in the sector.
Des organisations syndicales minoritaires ont déposé un préavis de grève pour l’ensemble des contrôleurs aériens du jeudi 3 au vendredi 4 juillet.
— Philippe Tabarot (@PhilippeTabarot) July 2, 2025
Au congrès de la FNAM aujourd'hui, j’ai passé un message clair : je suis résolu à tenir bon face à ce mouvement inacceptable.… pic.twitter.com/wSIPcQ8la3
Deliberate impact on school holidays
The chosen dates coincide with the start of the French school vacations in what appears to be a deliberately combative move. Holidaymakers hoping to depart at the capital’s two major airports, Charles de Gaulle/Roissy and Orly, will find a quarter of flights are cancelled. At nearby budget carrier hub Paris Beauvais too. Worse, at Bastia, Calvi, and Nice, schedules have been halved. Meanwhile, at Ajaccio, Figari, Lyon, Marseille, and Montpellier, 30% of flights have been wiped from boards.
What’s more, the strike will bring significant delays and disruption that is likely to impact even those who are not travelling on the named days, due to the knock-on effect on timetables and plane logistics.
18 months of strikes
Travellers through and in France have faced 18 months of uncertainty due to the industrial dispute. May’s withdrawal of labour saw 70% of flights affected. The ongoing issues have led Ryanair to complain to the European Union about what the Irish carrier called its duty to protect passenger rights. “It is inexplicable that Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Commission have failed to take action to protect EU passengers’ Freedom of Movement during these repeated French ATC strikes,” the airline said in a statement.
Passengers may not receive compensation for a delay or disruption, as industrial walkouts are deemed ‘extraordinary circumstances’ relieving airlines of responsibility and voiding financial claims by customers.
Anyone who fears they will be affected is advised by DGAC to check their flight’s status with their airline and to take the opportunity to change flight dates if possible. The agency posted a warning on X, noting that: “Despite these preventative measures, disturbances and significant delays are to be expected at all French airports.”
