France air traffic strikes: Europe flights on these days in September likely to be disrupted

French air traffic controllers are set to strike again next week, after industrial action grounded more than 1,000 flights on Friday.

Hundreds of thousands of travellers faced severe disruption as airlines radically slashed their Friday schedules to cope with an air traffic walkout.

Airlines are bracing for more disruption, after France’s air traffic controller union announced three more days of strike action next week.

The strike will go ahead on 28, 29 and 30 September. It will be called off if the union reaches an agreement with France’s aviation authority, the DGAC.

“Discussions and contact were never stopped and are continuing,” says Frédéric Solano, DGAC’s managing director.

The French Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien (SNCTA) union - the country’s main union for air traffic controllers - have called the strike over pay and working conditions.

In a statement explaining last week’s industrial action, the union said inflation was eroding worker pay and called for wage increases and more recruitment.

“Between 2029 and 2035, one third of the [air traffic control] workforce is retiring. It is imperative that we anticipate and plan recruitment,” the statement says.

“If not, the consequences will be inevitable in terms of the public service, working conditions and flexibility.”

The SNCTA strike will coincide with a nationwide strike by France’s General Confederation of Labour Union on 29 September.

The union’s members - including baggage handlers and technical airport staff - will walk off the job between 4am on 29 September and 7am on 30 September.

How much did last Friday’s strikes impact travel?

Air traffic controllers walked off the job between 6am Friday 16 September and 6am Saturday 17 September.

The strike