Summer travel turmoil could intensify after the Union nationale du personnel navigant commercial (UNPNC-CFDT) warned on 27 July that it may call a strike of French-based cabin crew “in the coming weeks.” In a letter leaked to financial outlet Zone Bourse, the union denounces “deteriorating working conditions, last-minute roster changes and unagreed night-flight expansion,” and says previous talks with management and sister unions SNPNC-FO and UNAC have produced “no significant progress.” EasyJet operates around 250 daily flights to and from French airports, carrying a large share of intra-European business travellers. Any walk-out would land just before the traditional French August holiday exodus and could upend mobility programmes relying on low-cost connections between Paris, Lyon, Toulouse and key corporate hubs such as London and Milan. For multinational employers, the dispute raises both operational and duty-of-care issues. Short-haul alternatives on Air France/KLM and rail are already heavily booked due to the Bordeaux air-traffic restrictions. Mobility managers should map critical travel in the 5–25 August window, secure flexible tickets and brief travellers on EU261 compensation rights. HR teams moving assignees at month-end should reserve temporary accommodation in case arrival dates slip. The row also touches on France’s broader labour-relations climate. The SNCTA air-traffic-controller union has postponed – but not cancelled – its own stoppage planned for September, adding to uncertainty. Observers note that EasyJet France is reportedly a takeover target for private-equity funds; unions fear a sale would accelerate cost-cutting. EasyJet said it “remains open to dialogue” and promised to publish a strike-impact plan should industrial action be confirmed. Companies should monitor advisories via the airline’s Flight Tracker and ensure traveller profiles include up-to-date mobile numbers for re-routing notifications.
Source: Zone Bourse
