Overview

• Unions launched a two-day walkout on July 3–4 to demand relief from chronic understaffing, aging equipment and toxic management practices.
• On Friday, DGAC ordered airlines to cut 40% of scheduled flights at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Beauvais airports to match controller availability.
• Ryanair canceled 170 flights affecting over 30,000 passengers while easyJet scrapped 274 services and warned that all overflights through French airspace would face disruption.
• France’s largest air traffic control union, SNCTA, stayed out of the walkout and Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot condemned its timing as unacceptable.
• Airlines for Europe and carriers led by Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary are urging EU-level reforms to protect overflight routes and ensure fully staffed ATC services.