The French airline crew strike scheduled for 17 to 21 October remains in force, but a new government offer has given unions something to consider. The union representing cabin crew said this week that the government has moved to concrete proposals, including a commitment to publish an implementing decree by mid-October.
What is the strike
Five unions representing around 36,000 pilots and cabin crew filed a national strike notice running from 00:01 on Saturday 17 October to 23:59 on Wednesday 21 October, Paris time. It covers flight crew at air transport companies under French labour law, including Air France, Transavia France and Corsair.
The dispute centres on reform of the Cumul-Emploi-Retraite system, which governs how flight crew can combine work and retirement from 1 January 2027. The unions want flight crew and their dedicated pension fund excluded by law or decree, not just a ministerial circular.
The latest development
On 6 October, the SNPNC union said the government had shifted to concrete proposals, including a promise to publish the implementing decree by mid-October. The strike notice stays in force as pressure until the unions get firm guarantees. The unions remain open to negotiation, so the strike could still be modified or called off entirely.
No airline has published a detailed cancellation schedule for 17 to 21 October yet. The clearest picture is expected 48 to 72 hours before the strike begins.
Why the timing matters
The strike overlaps the start of the Toussaint school holidays in France, running from 16 October to 2 November, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. An earlier air traffic control strike planned for early October was averted after agreements with management, so air traffic control is not part of this dispute.
What UK travellers should do
- Hold your ticket. Do not cancel it yourself before the airline cancels, or you may weaken your rights.
- Watch your airline’s messages and app for the first cancellation schedules, expected around 14 to 15 October.
- Know your rights. If your flight is cancelled, you can choose a refund or rebooking. Compensation is contested here because the dispute targets the government rather than the airline, but duty of care (rebooking, meals, hotels) always applies.
- Have a backup. Eurostar from London to Paris is unaffected by the airline strike and is a strong alternative, and BA is not under French labour law.
We will update this story as cancellation schedules are published.
