LUTON- easyJet (U2) has cancelled hundreds of flights across France after cabin crew based in the country launched strike action during one of the busiest holiday travel weekends. The disruption has affected operations at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Paris Orly Airport (ORY), Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE), Bordeaux Mérignac Airport (BOD), and Lyon Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS).
The industrial action comes as unions representing French cabin crew push for more predictable work schedules and improved working conditions. easyJet said it cancelled many flights in advance to help passengers rebook on alternative services while minimizing last-minute disruption.
easyJet French Cabin Crew Strike
According to French cabin crew unions, around half of easyJet’s approximately 900 France-based cabin crew members were expected to participate in the strike. As a result, about half of the airline’s scheduled flights from several major French airports were disrupted.
The strike coincided with a major national holiday weekend in France, a period when airports typically experience some of the highest passenger traffic of the year. The timing increased the operational impact and affected thousands of travelers.
easyJet described the industrial action as opportunistic because it occurred during one of the country’s busiest travel periods. The airline said it had already proposed changes to improve staff conditions and planned additional negotiations with union representatives in September.
To reduce uncertainty for passengers, the airline cancelled most affected flights before departure and encouraged customers to use available rebooking options, France24 reported.
Unions Demand Greater Stability in Work Schedules
The central issue raised by the unions is the lack of stability in cabin crew scheduling.
William Bourdon, representing the SNPNC-FO union, said crew members frequently experience major changes to their work assignments. According to the union, some employees may see their working hours and destinations altered as many as 50 to 60 times within a single week.
Union representatives argue that such last-minute changes make it extremely difficult for employees to plan their personal lives, arrange childcare, or manage family commitments. Many schedule changes reportedly occur only 24 to 48 hours before departure.
Bourdon described the scheduling system as a constant game of musical chairs, saying crew members are regularly reassigned with little notice.
Staff Shortages Create Operational Challenges
Union officials also pointed to staffing shortages as a major contributor to the scheduling instability.
When easyJet does not have enough crew available at one airport, employees are often reassigned from another operational base. While this helps cover immediate staffing gaps, it can create shortages at the original base, leading to further changes across the network.
According to union representatives, this cycle results in repeated adjustments to crew rosters and increases operational pressure on employees throughout the airline’s French network.
The unions involved in negotiations have warned that additional strike action could take place between August 7 and September 2 if discussions fail to produce meaningful improvements.
Previous Dispute and Ongoing Negotiations
This is not the first labor dispute between easyJet and its French cabin crew this year.
A previous strike in April caused only limited operational disruption. During that dispute, unions accused the airline of offering bonuses of up to €700 to employees willing to work despite the industrial action.
Union representatives argued that such incentives undermined the strike and claimed similar measures would be inappropriate if repeated during the current dispute. Bourdon said he had warned the airline against using what he described as an illegal tactic.
Ahead of the latest strike, easyJet urged employees to suspend the industrial action, emphasizing that it had already presented proposals to improve working conditions and remained committed to continuing negotiations.
As talks continue, passengers traveling through major French airports are advised to monitor their flight status and remain in contact with the airline for the latest operational updates.
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