Fri Jul 04 07:44:51 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

**French Air Traffic Controller Strike Grounds Thousands of Flights, Strands Passengers**

**Paris – July 4, 2025** – A nationwide strike by French air traffic controllers brought chaos to airports across France today, with roughly 40% of flights cancelled, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded at the height of the summer travel season.

The strike, led in part by the UNSA-ICNA union, began on Thursday and intensified on Friday, causing significant disruptions at major airports including Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Beauvais in Paris, as well as Nice, Marseille, and Lyon. The national civil aviation authority had urged airlines to preemptively cancel flights in anticipation of the strike’s impact.

Budget airline Ryanair reported cancelling over 400 flights, affecting 70,000 passengers. The airline criticized the strike, arguing it impacted not only flights in and out of France but also those merely traversing French airspace. Ryanair urged the European Union to reform air traffic rules in response.

The striking air traffic controllers are demanding better working conditions, citing staffing shortages exacerbated by a surge in air travel and the impact of inflation on salaries. They are also protesting new reform measures aimed at tighter work monitoring, which were prompted by a recent near-collision at Bordeaux airport.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot condemned the strike as unacceptable, particularly given its timing as French schools close and families begin their summer vacations.

Meanwhile, unions warned of continued disruptions and delays at all French airports as the strike continues.

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**Summary of the Text:**

French air traffic controllers initiated a strike on July 3rd, 2025, demanding better working conditions, leading to widespread flight cancellations across France on July 4th. The strike, impacting major airports and airlines like Ryanair, has disrupted travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers. The controllers cite understaffing, inflation, and new work monitoring measures as reasons for the strike, while the Transport Minister has criticized their actions.

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