Potential Three-Day Job Action Would Have Impacted Thousands of European Travelers

France’s largest air traffic controller union has called off plans for a three-day walk-out, an action that airlines say could have been felt by upwards of 100,000 passengers. The group was reportedly able to hash out pay and work conditions issues with the nation’s aviation authority and reach an agreement with executives.

The planned walkout was originally scheduled for October 7–9, and threatened to cancel as many as 600 flights per day. Airlines across Europe had begun preparing contingency routes to avoid French airspace as low-cost carriers, primarily Ryanair, warned that the UK would suffer the most cancellations due to its heavy dependence on overflights through France. The disruption would have mirrored another, smaller strike earlier this summer that left tens of thousands stranded during peak travel season.

The Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien (SNCTA), which represents roughly 60 percent of French controllers, said they reached “progress” on internal disputes following discussions with France’s Civil Aviation Authority and newly appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu. The government’s decision to delay debate on its budget bill was viewed as a key political cave-in, easing tensions with labor groups already frustrated by inflation and management practices. The union said no new strike dates were planned.

While details of the agreement remain limited, union leaders have long pushed for wage adjustments to match inflation and reforms to the “punitive practices and humiliating management methods". They’ve also called for a complete review of operations within France’s air traffic system, arguing that poor internal communication and inadequate staffing have contributed to growing stress among controllers.

The announcement came as a major relief. The French transport ministry said the decision was in the interest of “passengers, airlines, and airports,” but added that "discussions must continue in order to improve the performance of French air traffic control, which currently remains below expectations.” Ryanair somewhat echoed these sentiments, taking a dig at multiple European governments for refusing “to ensure their ATC services are properly staffed and managed.”

FMI: www.ryanair.com