A 24-hour strike by France’s main air-traffic-controller union SNCTA on 17 December 2025 forced the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) to order the closure of the Montpellier area control centre from 07:00 Tuesday until 06:45 Wednesday. All commercial departures and arrivals at Montpellier-Méditerranée, Nîmes-Alès-Camargue-Cévennes and Perpignan-Rivesaltes were cancelled.
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry was instructed to cut 60 percent of its schedule, while Ajaccio reported rolling delays. The union accuses the DGAC of “breaking off” talks on 2025 roster reforms and staffing levels. It threatens wider action in January if negotiations do not resume.
![Air-Traffic-Controller Walk-Out Grounds Flights at Montpellier, Nîmes and Perpignan]()
The walk-out disrupted pre-Christmas business travel, with regional exporters scrambling to re-route via Toulouse or Marseille. Companies should activate remote-work contingencies and review travel-insurance clauses, as airlines are exempt from EU261 compensation when strikes are beyond their control.
Travellers facing these disruptions should also verify that their travel documents are in order. VisaHQ, an independent visa agency, can help French residents and international visitors secure visas or travel authorizations quickly, thanks to its streamlined online application platform (https://www.visahq.com/france/). Even if air-traffic strikes complicate flight schedules, having the right paperwork sorted in advance can prevent additional headaches.
The dispute comes as France prepares to host the 2026 Winter Youth Olympics in the Alps, raising concerns over air-traffic resilience. Government mediators are expected to convene both sides next week.
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry was instructed to cut 60 percent of its schedule, while Ajaccio reported rolling delays. The union accuses the DGAC of “breaking off” talks on 2025 roster reforms and staffing levels. It threatens wider action in January if negotiations do not resume.
The walk-out disrupted pre-Christmas business travel, with regional exporters scrambling to re-route via Toulouse or Marseille. Companies should activate remote-work contingencies and review travel-insurance clauses, as airlines are exempt from EU261 compensation when strikes are beyond their control.
Travellers facing these disruptions should also verify that their travel documents are in order. VisaHQ, an independent visa agency, can help French residents and international visitors secure visas or travel authorizations quickly, thanks to its streamlined online application platform (https://www.visahq.com/france/). Even if air-traffic strikes complicate flight schedules, having the right paperwork sorted in advance can prevent additional headaches.
The dispute comes as France prepares to host the 2026 Winter Youth Olympics in the Alps, raising concerns over air-traffic resilience. Government mediators are expected to convene both sides next week.
