Business aviation operators planning missions to or through France on September 18, 2025 should prepare for significant disruptions. A nationwide strike involving air traffic control (ATC) unions is expected to severely impact French airspace capacity and airport operations.

Strike Overview

As of September 11 at 1000 UTC, 40% of scheduled air traffic controllers have already submitted strike notices for September 18. This number is expected to increase until the September 16 deadline.

The strike combines both national labor actions and DGAC-specific calls, creating a perfect storm of operational challenges across French aviation infrastructure. This Minister of France Transport PowerPoint has all the details.

Capacity Impact

En-Route Operations:

• All five Area Control Centers (Paris, Reims, Marseille, Bordeaux, Brest) will operate under minimum service
• Approximately 11,200 flights are scheduled in French airspace
• Under minimum service conditions, France can only handle 5,300–5,500 flights
• Massive rerouting around French airspace will be necessary for overflights

Airport Operations:

• Approach/Tower units will operate on minimum service where legally required
• National flight programs may be reduced by 60–70%
• Several airports may experience partial or complete ATS closures

Business Aviation-Specific Impacts

High-Priority Airports:

Nice (LFMN):

• COHOR slots are frozen for September 18
• Slots preserved to maintain balance between commercial and business aviation traffic

Cannes (LFMD):

• Regulated by Nice APP
• Extremely limited capacity under minimum service conditions

Paris Le Bourget (LFPB):

• ATS capacity highly restricted if either LFPB Tower or CDG Approach operates minimum service
• Critical bottleneck for Paris-area business aviation

Operational Restrictions:

• Y/Z flight plans (IFR↔VFR transitions) will not be accepted
• Training and transit flights restricted at satellite airports
• Multiple NOTAMs expected for APP sector limitations

Minimum Service Guarantees

Airports with Legal Minimum Service:

• Major hubs: CDG, Orly, Le Bourget, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse
• Regional: Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, Strasbourg, Basel-Mulhouse, Beauvais
• Overseas territories: Cayenne, Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, Saint-Denis, Mayotte, Nouméa, Wallis, Papeete, Saint-Pierre

Airports Without Minimum Service:

• Approach units: Rennes, Clermont-Ferrand, Limoges, Poitiers, Metz-Nancy, Seine, Pyrénées, Biarritz, Chambéry
• Tower services: All DSNA towers not specifically listed above

Operators should expect closures or severe restrictions at airports without minimum service guarantees.

Critical Timeline

• September 16, 1000 UTC: Final deadline for controllers to submit strike notices
• September 16, 1600 UTC: Deadline to cancel strike participation
• September 16: DGAC announces official flight program reductions

Operator Recommendations

Immediate Actions:

• Review all September 18 French operations and identify alternatives
• Secure slots and parking at alternate airports outside France
• Coordinate with ground handlers for potential last-minute changes
• Monitor DGAC announcements scheduled for September 16

Flight Planning Considerations:

• Plan routing to avoid French airspace for overflights
• Expect significant delays for flights requiring French airports
• Consider repositioning aircraft before September 18 if critical missions are scheduled
• Prepare for extended turnaround times at airports with minimum service

Network Manager Coordination: The DGAC is working with Eurocontrol’s Network Manager on comprehensive rerouting scenarios. Operators should coordinate with their flight planning providers for optimized alternate routing.

Bottom Line

September 18 represents a significant labor action affecting multiple French sectors, with aviation being one component. With 60–70% capacity reductions expected at airports nationwide and widespread rerouting required, operators should plan accordingly and consider flexible alternatives.

For missions that must operate in French airspace, secure confirmations early and prepare contingency plans. Monitor DGAC updates on September 16 for final capacity announcements and specific airport restrictions.