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Paris Air Traffic Control Strike Postponed to October 7 to 9

A wide view of CDG's control tower and terminal under clear skies, illustrating the Paris air traffic control strike timing and operational impact.
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5 min read

France's main controller union, SNCTA, has suspended its September 18 walkout and moved action to October 7 to 9, 2025. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Paris Orly Airport (ORY) will not face a majority ATC stoppage on September 18. However, other unions have separate strike notices for that day, so travelers should still expect demonstrations, staffing variations, and localized delays around Paris and select French airports. Airlines are adjusting plans, with formal DGAC capacity directives more likely ahead of the October dates.

Key Points

  • Why it matters: The Paris air traffic control strike is now slated for October 7 to 9, reducing immediate risk on September 18.
  • Travel impact: September 18 may still bring slower ops from non-SNCTA actions, especially at CDG and ORY.
  • What's next: Eurocontrol briefings and DGAC orders typically arrive 24 to 48 hours before strike windows.
  • Airline playbook: preemptive cancellations, retimes, and overflight reroutes.
  • Watch connections that cross French airspace, not just flights to France.

Snapshot

SNCTA confirmed it has suspended the September 18 action and refiled for October 7 to 9, citing the absence of government interlocutors during cabinet formation. CFDT Aviation Civile and other federations maintain a broader mobilization for September 18, which could touch airport and DGAC support staff without a majority controller walkout. Eurocontrol has flagged French industrial action as a network-planning topic in mid-September briefings. For context on how protest activity has affected transfers in Paris this week, see France "Bloquons tout" protests disrupt roads, rail hubs, and airport transfers. Background on the original strike notice remains useful in France's September ATC strike could ripple across Europe.

Background

SNCTA initially filed a 24-hour national strike spanning the morning of September 18 through the end of the September 19 night shift, after disagreements with DGAC over inflation catch-up and operational governance. The union has since pushed action to October 7 to 9, again covering the morning start on the 7 through the end of the night shift after the 9. Earlier controller action on July 3 and July 4 led DGAC to mandate schedule cuts and caused network delays across Western Europe. Given that history, airlines commonly thin schedules, reroute overflights, and widen block times when French controller action is imminent. See our previous policy context at France travel disruptions after government collapse.

Latest Developments

SNCTA suspends September 18, refiles for October 7 to 9

SNCTA's national committee authorized the suspension of its September 18 strike and a reposting for October 7 to 9, 2025. The union says the change reflects the lack of a transport minister during cabinet formation and the need for high-level talks on pay indexing and operational management. Practically, the absence of the majority union on September 18 lowers the probability of DGAC ordering large, nationwide capacity cuts that day, especially at CDG and ORY. Expect the heavier operational risk to shift toward the October window, when Eurocontrol would coordinate flow measures, and airlines could consolidate flights and issue waivers.

Other unions keep September 18 mobilization alive

Several labor groups, including CFDT Aviation Civile, maintained strike notices for September 18 that cover DGAC personnel beyond controllers. Impacts could include slower support functions, uneven staffing, and localized delays, with the scale depending on participation. Pilot organizations have not called for national action on that date. Travelers transiting Paris should allow additional time for check-in and security, watch for gate changes, and track airline alerts. While widespread ATC regulations are less likely without SNCTA, day-of disruption from ground operations and demonstrations remains possible.

Network planning signals and timing windows

Eurocontrol's Network Manager has highlighted French industrial action in mid-September coordination notes, with a specific teleconference set for September 15. If regulators foresee significant operational risk, DGAC typically issues reduction orders 24 to 48 hours ahead, aligning NOTAM windows to controller shifts. For the rescheduled October 7 to 9 period, expect advance airline messaging, revised connection minima, and potential reroutes around French FIRs. Overflights between the UK, Spain, Italy, and the Low Countries are the usual pressure points when France regulates capacity.

Analysis

For September 18, the removal of the majority controller union sharply reduces the likelihood of mass cancellations in Paris, but it does not eliminate travel friction. With multiple federations mobilizing, airport ecosystems can still experience delays that compound during peaks, particularly if security queues, ramp operations, or tower support staffing run tight. Travelers should protect connections involving CDG and ORY by building wider buffers and considering earlier departures. Long-haul arrivals with short European connects are most exposed.

The larger operational risk now sits with October 7 to 9, when SNCTA intends to proceed if talks stall. Based on July's experience, DGAC could again order preemptive cuts, sometimes 25 to 50 percent at select airports, and Eurocontrol could meter flows that ripple across Western Europe. Overflight reroutes around French airspace lengthen block times and raise misconnect risk beyond France itself. Airlines will likely deploy a familiar toolkit, including schedule thinning and retimes, plus waivers for voluntary changes. If you must travel across those October dates, avoid tight connections through hubs most likely to regulate flows, including CDG and ORY, and consider routings that do not cross French FIRs. The Paris air traffic control strike remains the season's key network risk even with the September deferral.

Final Thoughts

September 18 now looks more like a nuisance day than a shutdown, but plan for slower processing and keep alerts on. The strategic risk has moved to October 7 to 9, when a majority controller stoppage could trigger DGAC cuts and Eurocontrol regulations. If flexible, shift high-stakes itineraries away from those dates or reroute around French airspace. We will continue to track airline waivers and DGAC notices as the Paris air traffic control strike approaches its new window.

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