What to expect from Thursday’s French pilots’ strike

France’s national union of airline pilots (SNPL) has called for a strike on Thursday, November 14th to protest against a government plan to increase taxes on flights. Here is what to expect in terms of disruption.

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The strike notice concerns pilots for national carrier Air France as well as other carriers with pilots on French labour contracts, and the industrial action will take place on Thursday. It is expected to only last a single day.
The union, which represents the majority of French pilots, has also called for a demonstration outside parliament.
What about disruption for passengers?
Mobilisation is likely to be low among French airlines operating routes mainly between France and the French Overseas Territories or Corsica (Air Corsica, Corsair, Air Austral, Air Caraïbes, etc.), as these routes are not affected by the tax increase.
Some disruption is possible for flights operated by Air France and low-cost airline Transavia, and these airlines have warned that delays and changes to flight times are possible. Be sure to check your flight status before leaving for the airport.
Nevertheless, Air France still plans to operate its entire flight schedule on Thursday, according to French news outlet La Depeche. Similarly, Transavia will “operate 98 percent of its flights”, the French press reported.

Why are pilots planning to strike?
A spokesperson for the SNPL said the strike was to protest “against the government’s desire to raise an additional billion per year from the aviation sector.”
The union is angry at the government’s proposal to increase the solidarity tax on airline tickets which was included in the 2025 budget.
The SNPL spokesperson said the tax will see a three-fold increase that was being put through “without consultation of stakeholders in the sector having taken place”.
The solidarity tax is paid directly by the passenger, and is added on to the cost of their ticket – it is currently set at just under €3 per economy class ticket and €18 per first class ticket. 
But under the new budget the tax will increase per passenger for a normal economy class ticket to €9.50 for a destination in Europe, €15 for flights to intermediate destinations, and will cost €40 for long-distant destinations.

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There will be steeper increases for first class tickets and private jets. The cost of a business class ticket from Paris to New York would increase by €120, under plans voted through by MPs last week.
Flights to France’s overseas territories and Corsica won’t be included under the planned tax hike.
The SNPL pilots union believes the tax increase will ultimately lead to thousands of job losses in France.
“This social disaster will go hand in hand with the weakening of French operators or those operating regularly in France compared to their European and international competitors,” said the union.
On Sunday, France’s Transport Minister François Durovray defended this tax increase telling France Info that the benefits of the tax increase were two-fold. 

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“This tax has both the virtue of contributing to the restoration of state accounts, but there is also an environmental aim,” he said referring to the huge carbon emissions from flights.
He believes this tax could encourage airlines “to put more sustainable fuel in planes”.
Raising the levy, particularly for long-haul flights, is supposed to generate additional revenue of €1 billion. 
But the final budget that will go into law is still subject to haggling and given Prime Minister Michel Barnier does not have a majority in parliament it is unclear if the levy will be part of the final text.

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The strike notice concerns pilots for national carrier Air France as well as other carriers with pilots on French labour contracts, and the industrial action will take place on Thursday. It is expected to only last a single day.
The union, which represents the majority of French pilots, has also called for a demonstration outside parliament.
What about disruption for passengers?
Mobilisation is likely to be low among French airlines operating routes mainly between France and the French Overseas Territories or Corsica (Air Corsica, Corsair, Air Austral, Air Caraïbes, etc.), as these routes are not affected by the tax increase.
Some disruption is possible for flights operated by Air France and low-cost airline Transavia, and these airlines have warned that delays and changes to flight times are possible. Be sure to check your flight status before leaving for the airport.
Nevertheless, Air France still plans to operate its entire flight schedule on Thursday, according to French news outlet La Depeche. Similarly, Transavia will “operate 98 percent of its flights”, the French press reported.
Why are pilots planning to strike?
A spokesperson for the SNPL said the strike was to protest “against the government’s desire to raise an additional billion per year from the aviation sector.”
The union is angry at the government’s proposal to increase the solidarity tax on airline tickets which was included in the 2025 budget.
The SNPL spokesperson said the tax will see a three-fold increase that was being put through “without consultation of stakeholders in the sector having taken place”.
The solidarity tax is paid directly by the passenger, and is added on to the cost of their ticket – it is currently set at just under €3 per economy class ticket and €18 per first class ticket. 
But under the new budget the tax will increase per passenger for a normal economy class ticket to €9.50 for a destination in Europe, €15 for flights to intermediate destinations, and will cost €40 for long-distant destinations.
There will be steeper increases for first class tickets and private jets. The cost of a business class ticket from Paris to New York would increase by €120, under plans voted through by MPs last week.
Flights to France’s overseas territories and Corsica won’t be included under the planned tax hike.
The SNPL pilots union believes the tax increase will ultimately lead to thousands of job losses in France.
“This social disaster will go hand in hand with the weakening of French operators or those operating regularly in France compared to their European and international competitors,” said the union.
On Sunday, France’s Transport Minister François Durovray defended this tax increase telling France Info that the benefits of the tax increase were two-fold. 
“This tax has both the virtue of contributing to the restoration of state accounts, but there is also an environmental aim,” he said referring to the huge carbon emissions from flights.
He believes this tax could encourage airlines “to put more sustainable fuel in planes”.
Raising the levy, particularly for long-haul flights, is supposed to generate additional revenue of €1 billion. 
But the final budget that will go into law is still subject to haggling and given Prime Minister Michel Barnier does not have a majority in parliament it is unclear if the levy will be part of the final text.