easyJet strike in France cancels around 100 flights, further disruption possible until 2 September
Two-day cabin crew strike easyJet it disrupted traffic in the middle of one of the busiest summer weekends. The dispute, however, is not over: the current strike framework allows for further action with just 48 hours' notice.
Around 100 easyJet flights from French airports were cancelled on 15 and 16 August due to a cabin crew strike. The disruptions affected the carrier's operations in France right in the middle of a period of strong summer demand.
For travellers, but also for travel agencies and TMCs, a more important fact is that the problem does not have to end in a single weekend. The strike notice runs from 7 August to 2 September, and the unions can designate new days of work stoppage with 48 hours' notice.
The dispute is not primarily about wages
At the centre of the conflict are work schedules and their predictability. The SNPNC-FO, UNAC-CFE-CGC and UNPNC-CFDT unions have long been warning about frequent schedule changes, demanding rotations and the accumulated fatigue of cabin crew.
easyJet claims that it has proposed adjustments that should address some of the employees' objections and believes that negotiations should continue in September. The carrier previously stated that it would offer affected passengers options such as free flight changes and refunds.
Uncertainty is a bigger problem than the number of cancelled flights itself
For the tourism sector, a dispute like this is particularly awkward as it complicates operational planning. Agencies and TMCs can react relatively quickly to a cancellation known in advance, but the 48-hour deadline leaves little room for alternative flights, especially in late August when availability on European routes is still limited.
Besides that, flight cancellation often triggers a whole chain of modifications – from transfers and hotel bookings to connecting flights and other services at the destination.
Trade unions are not giving up for now
Following the weekend strike, SNPNC-FO announced on 18 August that the meeting with management had not yielded any new corrective measures and that the unions were considering their next moves. This means that until the strike notice expires, the risk of further disruption remains open.
