French air traffic controllers call off strike - sparing disruption for thousands of travellers

Saturday, 4 October 2025 16:25

French air traffic controllers have called off their upcoming strikes, sparing travellers across Europe from disruption.

The SNCTA (syndicat majoritaire des controleurs aeriens) union said it was halting its forthcoming industrial action from Tuesday to Thursday, 7 to 9 October, following agreements and the French prime minister's postponement of the French finance bill parliamentary debate.

The union has pushed for better pay and conditions.

Travellers across the UK were expected to face disruption from the industrial action - as stoppages by French air traffic staff mean flights over the country are rerouted or cancelled.

The head of Europe's biggest airline estimated the latest strikes could have meant 100,000 passengers had their flights cancelled, equating to about 600 flights a day.

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The UK would be particularly impacted, Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary said.

"The UK is the country whose flights get cancelled most because of the geographic proximity to France."

The airline has long campaigned for flights across French airspace to be protected amid walkouts, saying failure to do so was a breach of European Union laws.

Journeys to and from France should be impacted rather than trips for UK passengers heading to popular destinations in Spain and Greece, the airline has said.

French air traffic controllers also staged walkouts in July in their quest for better pay and conditions.

Due to this action, Ryanair said it axed 170 services and EasyJet said it cancelled 274 flights.

Sky News