A week-long pilots’ strike at Air Corsica entered its second day on 10 October 2026, leading the regional carrier to cancel 12 of its 70 scheduled flights between Ajaccio, Bastia, Figari and French mainland hubs. The work-stoppage, organised by the SNPL and SPAC unions, is set to continue until 16 October unless mediation with management yields an agreement on proposed roster changes and a new seniority-based pay grid. While the strike is relatively limited in scope—long-haul and low-cost competitors continue to operate—its impact is amplified because Air Corsica holds exclusive public-service obligation (PSO) contracts on several lifeline routes, notably Marseille–Calvi and Nice–Ajaccio. Travellers on those sectors have little alternative besides re-routing through Paris or taking the overnight ferry, options that extend journey times by four to eight hours. The disruption is particularly acute for companies with oil-and-gas and defence projects in Corsica that rely on just-in-time crew changes. One Marseille-based mobility provider said it had to charter two business-jets to keep to project schedules, adding €40,000 to logistics costs in 48 hours. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ajaccio estimates that if the strike continues for the full week, the island economy could forgo up to €3 million in business revenue. Air Corsica is offering free rebooking within 30 days or refunds for cancelled flights. Passengers booked on codeshare partner Air France are being notified directly, but those holding separate onward tickets should contact insurers about trip-interruption coverage. Mobility managers with staff rotations to Corsica are advised to build contingency routing via Toulouse or Genoa, where ferry connections remain unaffected. The government has not yet intervened but is monitoring the situation closely because PSO contracts entitle the Ministry for Ecological Transition to impose minimum-service requirements if public connectivity is deemed at risk.
Source: StrikeTracker France
