French Air Traffic Control Strike Averted After Successful Negotiations

Widespread Disruption Avoided as SNCTA Calls Off Strike

France's primary air traffic controllers' union, the SNCTA (Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien), announced on Saturday, October 4, 2025, the cancellation of its planned three-day strike. The industrial action, initially scheduled to run from October 7 to 9, 2025, threatened to cause significant disruption to air travel across France and wider European airspace. The decision to suspend the strike notice came after successful negotiations between the union and the French government, alongside the Civil Aviation Authority.

The averted strike brings relief to thousands of travelers and airlines, as previous estimates suggested the action could have led to the cancellation of approximately 600 flights per day, impacting up to 100,000 passengers.

Key Demands and Government Concessions

The SNCTA, which represents around 60 percent of French air traffic controllers, had issued the strike notice over long-standing grievances. The union's core demands centered on two main areas: salary adjustments to keep pace with inflation and significant governance reforms within the air traffic control sector.

Union representatives had previously cited 'mistrust, punitive practices, and humiliating management methods' as reasons for their call for a 'profound change in the management of operations.'

A pivotal factor in the resolution was a political concession from the government. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reportedly committed not to invoke Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to bypass parliamentary votes on the 2026 budget bill. This move was seen as a key step in addressing the union's concerns and facilitating a breakthrough in negotiations.

Background to the Industrial Action

This planned strike was not the first instance of industrial unrest among French air traffic controllers in 2025. The SNCTA had initially filed a strike notice for September 18-19, 2025. However, this action was postponed following the collapse of Prime Minister François Bayrou's government in September, which created political instability and made meaningful negotiations impossible.

The union then rescheduled the strike for October, aiming to exert pressure during crucial budgetary discussions. While specific details of the agreements reached have not been fully disclosed, the SNCTA confirmed that substantial progress was made on both salary and governance issues.

Looking Ahead

Following the cancellation, the SNCTA has stated that 'no new strike notice date is planned' for the immediate future. However, the union has also indicated that it will continue to advocate for better wages and reforms within the air traffic control sector, suggesting that while this immediate crisis has been averted, the underlying issues remain subjects for ongoing discussion and potential future action.