Airlines told to cancel some flights to and from France due to Thursday’s public servant strikes

Several flights to and from some of France’s largest airports are being cancelled tomorrow (Thursday December 5) due to civil servant strike action. 

France’s Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) has asked airports to cancel a percentage of both outgoing and incoming flights in light of the action.

This affects:

• Paris Charles de Gaulle between 06:00 and 12:00, with 10% of flights cancelled

• Paris Orly from 18:00 to midnight with 25% of flights cancelled

• Marseille Provence from 18:99 to midnight, with 50% of flights cancelled 

• Toulouse Blagnac for the entire day, with 20% of flights cancelled 

“Despite these preventive measures [further] disruption and delays are nevertheless to be expected,” the DGAC said.

Travellers flying to or from these airports at any point of the day are recommended to contact their airline for information on their flight. 

Strike action hits all public sectors

Thursday’s strike action concerns civil servants (fonctionnaires) across the board. 

Widespread disruption is expected in the education sector, with up to 65% of teachers and non-teaching staff primed to strike. 

Impact is also expected to public services including at mairies and tax offices, as well as hospitals. 

Read more: Schools, hospitals, mairies: what to expect from Thursday's public servant protests in France

Air traffic controllers fall under the civil servant umbrella, and are counted as fonctionnaires in their job role.

Unions supporting these workers did not specifically call for strike action on this day, however some controllers will be joining the movement, covered by the wider strike motions filed by civil servant unions. 

A law change in 2023 meant that controllers going on strike must announce their intention to do so two days beforehand, allowing airports to reduce disruption from any walkouts. 

Read more: French MPs move to stop last-minute air traffic controller strikes