France ATC/Labor Disruption Update — Business Aviation Playbook by AirWise Executive (LFMN)

fbonce
Sep 12
5 min read

French ATC strike 18th of September 2025

Updated September 12, 2025 (Europe/Paris): France’s largest ATC union SNCTA has postponed the nationwide strike originally planned for Thursday, September 18. The union says walkouts are now pushed to October 7–9, 2025, while other unions may still mobilize on September 18 as part of broader national actions. Expect lingering operational uncertainty, tactical ATFM regulations, and short-notice schedule changes even without a full national ATC shutdown.

At AirWise Executive, we turn uncertainty into a workable ops plan. Our fully licensed, ramp-authorized station at Nice Côte d’Azur (LFMN), with on-site supervision, slot/parking coordination via COHOR, and live CDM@DSNA collaboration, gives business aviation crews and dispatchers a reliable local partner when France’s network is tight.

What changed since the first alerts?

Sept 10 disruptions happened: DGAC required 50% flight reductions in the evening window at Nice (LFMN) and Corsica airports for the Sept 10 strike day. That was a clear signal of how quickly traffic programs can be cut even when actions are localized.
Sept 18 status has softened: SNCTA has deferred its call; however, other unions and separate local job actions can still generate ground handling, tower/approach staffing, or en-route constraints that impact bizav. Monitor DGAC notices and NOTAMs closely.
Network posture remains watchful: EUROCONTROL’s rolling plan keeps stakeholders aligned on reroutes and sector capacity; if new actions pop up, Network Manager (NM) can quickly impose regulations that lengthen overflight routes around French FIRs.

BizAv focus: Nice, Cannes, Paris, Marseille — and what AirWise does differently

Nice (LFMN) — Our home base, your best buffer

Slots & parking: Nice is fully slot-coordinated via COHOR with tight tolerances (±10 min arrival, −10/+15 min departure). During industrial action periods, last-minute changes can void both slot and stand — this is where our ramp-side team protects your operation.
Strike-mode posture: Industry ops sources noted temporary freezes of new PPR/slots around planned strike windows; with SNCTA’s deferral, the posture can relax, but we still treat the Sept 18–19 window as high-risk for day-of regulations from NM or local ATC staffing. We’ll confirm in real time with COHOR and the airport C2.
AirWise advantage: Full airside access, real-time CDM inputs, and 24/7 supervision to secure the best-available CTOT/TOBT sequence and coordinate any refile needed to hold stands and turnarounds.

Cannes (LFMD)

Approach dependency: Cannes is regulated via Nice APP. On constrained days, APP staffing and TMAs drive arrival metering; our team deconflicts arrival waves and manages lifts to/from LFMN when needed. (Background on A-CDM/Nice integration improves predictability for the greater Riviera basin.)

Paris Le Bourget (LFPB)

Bottleneck dynamics: LFPB’s capacity is sensitive to CDG/ORY approach configurations and ATFM regulations. AirWise coordinates program changes and CDM@DSNA visibility to protect bizav priorities (e.g., curfew-risk flights, medical, diplomatic).

Marseille (LFML) & South Sectors

Marseille ACC/TMA actions ripple across the South; even when LFMN is open, flow restrictions can propagate. Our dispatch liaison monitors NM measures and re-routes to stabilize block times.

If overflying France on high-risk days

Expect tactical reroutes and sector regulations that increase EETs. We’ll pre-build non-French FIR options where practical (e.g., routing via Italy/Switzerland/Spain) and pre-coordinate fuel and crew duty impacts. (EUROCONTROL NM planning references.)
Stage outside France when wise: For Riviera traffic, Genoa (LIMJ), Turin (LIMF), Milan Linate (LIML), Milan Malpensa (LIMC), or Geneva (LSGG) can serve as alternates to absorb delays or diversions while we preserve your LFMN slot/stand. (General routing practice; validate on day of ops.)

AirWise Executive: Strike-Smart Operating Playbook

Slot & Stand Shielding (COHOR)
- Submit and defend your desired times. If NM issues CTOTs or local restrictions, we preserve stand assignments and reconcile CTOT vs. ground windows to avoid a chain-reaction cancellation. (Nice is strict on tolerances; we keep your plan within the window.)
CDM@DSNA Live Collaboration
- We plug your flight into CDM@DSNA workflows (TOBT/DMAN logic at A-CDM airports incl. Nice, Paris CDG/ORY, Lyon) so changes propagate predictably to the Network Manager and local towers.
ATFM/Reroute Desk (NM)
- Alternative routings outside French FIRs pre-validated; EET deltas and fuel triggers ready; if capacity is cut, we file the best regulation-bypass option your performance allows.
Le Bourget Priority Handling
- For Paris ops, we sequence turns against CDG/ORY configurations and curfew limits using CDM data so bizav movements don’t get stranded by last-minute approach changes.
Crew Duty & Curfew Engineering
- We recalc FDP impacts when CTOTs slip; where curfew exposure exists (e.g., ORY), we propose swap/tech-stop solutions to protect the mission.
VIP Passenger Continuity
- If rotations slide, our Concierge Branch reorganizes helicopter shuttles, chauffeurs, hotel holds, and restaurant pickups (Monaco/Nice) to maintain a seamless passenger experience. (Service capability per AirWise Concierge positioning.)
Catering Last-Mile, Even in Disruption
- VVVVIP inflight catering with Monaco & Côte d’Azur fine-dining partners, packaged for bizav galleys; rerouted ETDs get updated cold-chain timing and delivery gates to avoid waste or quality loss.
Transparent Comms
- Dispatch-grade situation reports tie together COHOR slot IDs, TOBT/TSAT/CTOT, stand allocations, and NM regulations—so your OCC, crew, and principals see the same single source of truth.

Day-of-Ops Checklist for September 18 (and beyond)

Reconfirm COHOR slot IDs, stand, and PPR status at LFMN/LFPB/LFML. (If you’re new to Nice this season, remember the strict slot tolerance.) OpsGroup
Pull latest NM measures and NOTAMs for LFFF/LFRR/LFMM/LFRR FIRs; plan non-French FIR overflight alternates.
Freeze your fuel plan for likely EET extensions; pre-compute crew FDP margins.
Stage alternates (e.g., LIML/LIMC/LIMJ/LSGG) with parking holds if your French destination is at risk.
Protect passengers: build ground transport slack and stand-by helicopters; keep hotels flexible (late check-in/out).
Coordinate catering to revised ETDs; confirm airside delivery timing and security screening flow.
Escalate critical missions (MED/DIP/tech) early so we can advocate with local stakeholders using CDM channels.

Why this matters even if Sept 18 is “postponed”

Industrial climate is still hot: Major strikes already hit France this summer (e.g., two-day ATC strike in early July). Rapid, rolling actions can reappear with little notice. Preparation beats prediction.
DGAC can cut programs quickly: As seen on Sept 10, evening reductions at Nice and Corsican airports were ordered with limited lead time. Bizav needs a local, CDM-connected supervisor to hold ground resources while CTOTs evolve.

How AirWise Executive secures your France missions

Local license & ramp access at LFMN for hands-on flight upervision (airside/landside).
Slot & parking mastery with COHOR and airport authorities; tight-window recovery when CTOTs shift. CDM@DSNA integration (Nice, Paris, Lyon) to keep TOBT/TSAT/DMAN aligned with your actual readiness and Network Manager (EUROCONTROL) constraints.
24/7 OCC and Concierge Branch for passengers & crews (transfers, hotels, helicopter links, fine-dining Monaco/Nice pickups, and VVVVIP inflight catering).
Coverage beyond Nice—Paris Le Bourget, Marseille, Cannes, Toulon—with the same ops discipline and VIP standards.

Bottom line: With SNCTA’s Sept 18 strike now deferred to October 7–9, operators have a breathing space—but not a free pass. France can still impose short-notice flow measures. If your trip touches Nice/LFMN or overflies France, lock in a strike-smart plan now: defend slots/stands, firm up alternates, and run CDM-tight turnarounds. AirWise Executive is on-site to keep your operation predictable when the network isn’t.