Strikes and flight cancellations in October 2025: which countries will be most affected

Travel in Europe is under threat due to a new strike by air traffic controllers in France. Find out when the protest will take place, which destinations will be most affected, and what advice passengers are being given to avoid flight problems

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Air passengers traveling to France or flying over its airspace in October 2025 have been warned of possible serious disruptions to air traffic. The reason is a four-day strike by French air traffic controllers, which is expected to affect hundreds of thousands of travelers across Europe.

When and why are French air traffic controllers striking?

According to Express, the National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (SNCTA) has confirmed that the strike will begin on the morning of October 7 and will continue until the end of the night shift on October 10. The main reason for the protest is dissatisfaction with the level of pay, which, according to the union, does not keep pace with inflation.

The strike could cause widespread delays and cancellations not only within France but also in neighboring destinations. This will affect flights passing through French airspace, in particular to Spain, Portugal, Italy, and other popular tourist destinations.

In other words, even passengers who did not have a direct flight to France may experience disruptions.

The consequences of previous strikes: what happened in the summer

It should be noted that a similar strike in July 2025 already led to large-scale disruptions. At that time, more than 1,500 flights were canceled, affecting over a million passengers. According to experts, airlines lost about €120 million.

Another strike was planned for September 18, but it was postponed after the resignation of Prime Minister François Bayrou's government. Now the SNCTA union has announced a new wave of protests, while calling on another organization, UNSA-ICNA, to join. The latter refused to participate, accusing SNCTA of inconsistency.

The president of the French aviation lobby group, Pascal de Isagirre, criticized the decision to strike, calling it “incomprehensible” since a new three-year agreement with air traffic controllers was signed less than a year ago. He also warned that the scale of the disruptions could exceed those in July.

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How airlines are responding

Airlines are already preparing for the consequences of the protests. In particular, Europe's largest low-cost carrier, Ryanair, has warned passengers of possible mass flight cancellations.

According to Sky News, the company's CEO, Michael O'Leary, said that the strike could disrupt flights for 100,000 passengers. In the first two days, the company expects about 600 flights to be canceled, most of which are flights over French territory.

"We operate about 3,500 flights a day, and about 900 of them pass through French airspace. During the strike, we have to cancel up to 600 flights a day. That's about 100,000 passengers whose travel plans are now in jeopardy," O'Leary said.

He also noted that British passengers are suffering the most, as their routes most often fly over France.

Despite this, O'Leary recognized the workers' right to strike but called on Eurocontrol to intervene to ensure stable air traffic management:

“The French have the right to strike, but canceling flights between the UK and Spain or Italy is a violation of the principles of the single market,” he said.

How to avoid problems and what passengers should do

Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights 48 hours before departure and download airline mobile apps to receive notifications about changes.

It is also worth considering that during the strike, demand for rail and bus transport will increase, as many passengers will be looking for alternative routes.

And most importantly, make sure you have travel insurance that covers not only medical emergencies, but also flight delays or cancellations. By the way, on the Visit Ukraine platform, Ukrainians can quickly take out travel insurance for traveling abroad — online, in a few clicks, and with instant confirmation by email. Such insurance will help you recover your expenses or get help in case of unforeseen situations during your trip.

We remind you! Europe is preparing to launch a new border control system — EES. Starting October 12, the usual stamp in your passport will be replaced by biometric registration, and the entry process will become completely digital. Read about what surprises the EES system has in store and how to avoid unpleasant surprises when traveling to Europe.

Photo: YOAN VALAT / EPA

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