France Faces New Travel Disruption as Strike Grounds Air France Flights, Closes Pau and Tarbes Airports, and Sets Stage for Second Walkout This Thursday – Travel And Tour World

France is facing a fresh wave of travel disruption today as a nationwide civil servant strike forces the cancellation of all flights at Pau and Tarbes airports and causes delays across several others, including Paris-Orly and Marseille. Air France operations have been directly affected, with flight schedules adjusted due to limited air traffic control staffing. The strike, backed by five major unions, also disrupted public services and schools in several cities, while a second, broader walkout is already planned for this Thursday, raising the likelihood of continued chaos across France’s transport and administrative sectors.

Nationwide Strike Grounds Flights and Disrupts Air France Operations

France’s air travel network experienced widespread disruption today as civil servants across multiple sectors staged a coordinated walkout, halting operations at key regional airports and affecting major carriers including Air France. The strike, backed by five influential unions, led to the complete shutdown of Pau Pyrénées and Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées airports, with further delays rippling through Paris-Orly, Marseille, and Limoges.

The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) confirmed that all flights in and out of Pau and Tarbes were cancelled between 8 a.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday due to the participation of air traffic controllers. At Tarbes, only one early arrival from Nantes landed before the strike-related cancellations took effect. Air France adjusted operations and rerouted several regional services as the disruptions took hold.

Regional Airports Bear the Brunt of the Walkout

While Air France and other carriers worked to minimize passenger disruption, regional airports bore the full force of the strike. Pau and Tarbes saw complete shutdowns, while Paris-Orly, Marseille, and Limoges experienced delays rather than full cancellations.

Flights were delayed, diverted, or rescheduled as air traffic control staff shortages cascaded through the system. One London-Stansted flight scheduled to land at Tarbes was rerouted, exemplifying the strike’s reach across international routes.

Union Demands Center on Pay, Conditions, and Staffing

The strike was organized by five major unions—CGT, UNSA, FSU, Solidaires, and CFE-CGC—to protest wage stagnation, inflation, and working conditions in the public sector. Union representatives also highlighted a lack of progress in ongoing negotiations concerning staff numbers and job roles, especially among air traffic controllers.

Despite some discussions held earlier this year, particularly ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, union leaders argue that significant reforms remain unresolved, prompting this new wave of strike action.

Public Services, Schools, and Offices Also Affected

In addition to transport disruption, the strike affected public sector offices, education facilities, and day-to-day services. Préfectures, mairies (town halls), and France Travail offices (formerly Pôle Emploi) experienced closures or reduced hours.

Some schools, crèches, and canteens were closed, particularly where teachers and childcare staff joined the strike. However, disruption in the education sector remained limited as the school year nears its end, and many parents had advance notice of closures.

Minimal Participation in Healthcare, But Social-Medical Strike Planned

While some sectors were deeply impacted, hospitals reported low levels of participation. Similar to the April 3 strike, which saw only 3.2% of hospital workers walk out, today’s impact on healthcare services was minimal. In many facilities, even striking workers continued to carry out core medical duties.

However, unions representing carers and social-medical workers are expected to join the next wave of strike action this Thursday, expanding the protest to include a larger portion of the healthcare and support services sector.

Air France Advises Caution as EU Compensation May Not Apply

Air France has issued updates to affected passengers, encouraging travelers to monitor flight status, rebook where necessary, and use digital channels for assistance. Under EU passenger rights rules, compensation is not guaranteed for delays or cancellations caused by strikes involving non-airline staff, such as air traffic controllers. These are classified as “extraordinary circumstances”, exempting airlines from mandatory refunds or compensation.

Second Strike Scheduled This Thursday as Tensions Persist

Unions have announced a second public sector strike scheduled for this Thursday, with many of the same sectors participating again. The walkout will also include workers from the social-medical field, raising concerns of deeper disruption across both transport and public service networks.

Authorities have not yet detailed the full expected impact, but passengers and residents are advised to prepare for continued service limitations and travel disruptions later this week.

Departures – Tuesday, May 13

Arrivals – Tuesday, May 13

France is experiencing major travel disruption today as a civil servant strike grounds Air France flights and shuts down Pau and Tarbes airports, with unions demanding better pay, working conditions, and staffing reforms. A second strike is already planned for this Thursday, signaling ongoing unrest across the country.

Ongoing Unrest Could Disrupt Summer Travel

Today’s strike highlights the mounting pressure on the French government to resolve ongoing disputes with civil service unions. With the summer travel season approaching, prolonged unrest in the aviation and public service sectors could cause significant disruptions for domestic and international travelers unless meaningful agreements are reached soon.