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Paris, 4 July 2025 – A sweeping air traffic control (ATC) strike in France entered its second day on Friday, causing widespread disruption across Europe’s aviation network. More than 1,200 flights were cancelled or delayed, with major airports including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Nice, and Lyon severely affected.
📉 Strike Impact and Scope
Led by minority unions UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT, the strike was triggered by demands for improved staffing, modernized equipment, and opposition to a proposed clock-in system. France’s civil aviation authority DGAC ordered a 40% reduction in scheduled flights, citing reduced ATC capacity.
- Thursday: 933 flights cancelled
- Friday: Over 1,000 cancellations by midday
- Europe-wide: 1,500 flights cancelled, affecting 300,000+ passengers
🚨 Airline Disruptions
Major carriers grounded flights across France and Europe:
- Air France: 167 cancellations at CDG
- easyJet: 68 cancellations at Nice, 44 at CDG
- Ryanair: Over 400 flights cancelled across Europe
- British Airways, Lufthansa, Delta, and dozens of others reported delays and cancellations at multiple hubs
Secondary airports such as Toulouse, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Nantes also experienced significant disruption, with hundreds of flights affected.
🌍 Ripple Effects Across Europe
The strike disrupted not only domestic and international flights to and from France but also overflights—aircraft passing through French airspace en route to other destinations. Airlines faced limited rerouting options, leading to delays in Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK.
🗣️ Industry and Government Response
The Airlines for Europe (A4E) association reported nearly 500,000 minutes of delays across 33,000 flights.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary called on the European Commission to legislate protections for overflights during national strikes, arguing that most affected passengers weren’t even flying to or from France.
French officials condemned the timing of the strike, which coincided with the start of the summer holiday season. Despite only 272 workers participating, the action impacted over half a million travelers in 48 hours.
🔍 Outlook
There is no official end date for the strike. If unresolved, it could jeopardize peak summer travel and strain airline operations across the continent.
For live updates and passenger rights information, visit The Journal’s coverage or MSN Travel.
