Air-traffic technicians and tower controllers employed by France’s civil-aviation directorate (DGAC/SEAC) in Papeete have voted to continue an open-ended strike that began on 1 January after mediation talks collapsed for a third time. The USAC-CGT union says staffing levels remain “dangerously low” to manage both international wide-body arrivals and an expanding inter-island turboprop network.
Operational picture. While minimum-service laws cap the impact, airlines report rolling delays of 30-90 minutes at Tahiti–Faa’a and occasional cancellations to Moorea and Bora-Bora. Air Tahiti Nui has consolidated some Los Angeles and Auckland frequencies; Air France rerouted crew lay-overs to avoid exceeding duty hours. Cargo operators moving marine-spare parts and perishable fish exports have flagged potential spoilage risks if the dispute drags on.
Employer vs. union. Management is offering a phased recruitment of six additional controllers this year plus a one-off €1 000 hardship bonus; the union wants 12 hires and an immediate 10 % allowance for night shifts.
![French Polynesia Air-Traffic Staff Extend Strike, Delaying Tahiti Flights]()
Why it matters for mobility managers. French Polynesia is classed as an “overseas country” of France; thus Paris-based mobility programmes covering Outre-mer staff must plan for extended journey times, re-validated work-permits for crew under the ‘Passeport Talent—Mission’ category, and possible accommodation overruns for assignees relocating to tourism projects in Bora-Bora.
For companies and travelers who suddenly find themselves needing urgent assistance with updating French “Passeport Talent—Mission” permits, securing visas for short-notice technical interventions, or arranging multi-country business itineraries that pass through Paris en route to Tahiti, VisaHQ can take over the paperwork load, monitor application progress in real time, and arrange secure courier delivery of documents worldwide. Full details on the services available can be found at https://www.visahq.com/france/.
Next steps. The territorial government has urged both sides to accept binding arbitration but USAC-CGT signalled fresh strike notices could hit the February school-holiday peaks.
Operational picture. While minimum-service laws cap the impact, airlines report rolling delays of 30-90 minutes at Tahiti–Faa’a and occasional cancellations to Moorea and Bora-Bora. Air Tahiti Nui has consolidated some Los Angeles and Auckland frequencies; Air France rerouted crew lay-overs to avoid exceeding duty hours. Cargo operators moving marine-spare parts and perishable fish exports have flagged potential spoilage risks if the dispute drags on.
Employer vs. union. Management is offering a phased recruitment of six additional controllers this year plus a one-off €1 000 hardship bonus; the union wants 12 hires and an immediate 10 % allowance for night shifts.
Why it matters for mobility managers. French Polynesia is classed as an “overseas country” of France; thus Paris-based mobility programmes covering Outre-mer staff must plan for extended journey times, re-validated work-permits for crew under the ‘Passeport Talent—Mission’ category, and possible accommodation overruns for assignees relocating to tourism projects in Bora-Bora.
For companies and travelers who suddenly find themselves needing urgent assistance with updating French “Passeport Talent—Mission” permits, securing visas for short-notice technical interventions, or arranging multi-country business itineraries that pass through Paris en route to Tahiti, VisaHQ can take over the paperwork load, monitor application progress in real time, and arrange secure courier delivery of documents worldwide. Full details on the services available can be found at https://www.visahq.com/france/.
Next steps. The territorial government has urged both sides to accept binding arbitration but USAC-CGT signalled fresh strike notices could hit the February school-holiday peaks.
