France's suspended air traffic control strikes rescheduled for October 2025
SNCTA union says governance tensions and stalled wage talks prompted a renewed schedule, with disruptions expected across France and Europe
France’s suspended air traffic control strikes have been rescheduled for October 2025, according to The Independent. The SNCTA union originally planned a 24-hour strike on September 18 that would have disrupted nearly 200 UK flights and paralyzed much of France’s airspace amid government budget cuts and stalled wage talks. The union described governance within the sector as marked by mistrust, punitive practices, and brutal managerial methods, saying progress could not be achieved while leadership remained unresolved.
Under the new plan, the longer strike is expected to begin on the morning of October 7 and end on the morning of October 10, with aviation officials warning of severe disruptions. The action is projected to disrupt 60% to 70% of airport programmes, with business aviation operators warned to anticipate en-route restrictions and widespread rerouting. The October action is expected to be disruptive across European airspace as carriers adjust schedules and seek alternative routing.
[Image: French air traffic control strike]()
SNCTA had pulled out of the September strikes after the collapse of the Bayrou government, which left no Minister of Transport to discuss demands. The union said the absence of a minister of transport currently makes it impossible to achieve demands at the ministerial level.
Earlier this summer, thousands of British travelers faced disruption as nearly 200 flights were canceled due to French ATC strikes. Ryanair canceled more than 160 flights, affecting tens of thousands of passengers, and chief executive Michael O’Leary renewed calls for urgent EU action to reform European ATC services. He urged EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene to prevent repeated disruption to overflights and passenger itineraries. Some of the cancellations affected flights arriving at or departing from London Stansted, Manchester, and Edinburgh, highlighting the cross-border impact of the French ATC dispute.
The dispute underscores ongoing tensions over funding, governance, and staffing within France’s air traffic control system. With the October schedule now in motion, airlines and travelers across Europe are monitoring developments closely as authorities weigh potential en-route restrictions, rerouting needs, and the broader implications for cross-border aviation amid a evolving regulatory landscape.