BELGIUM: French General Strikes in September threaten millions of rail and air passengers

French general strike threatens millions of rail and air passengers in September.

The bloquons tout movement is directed at austerity measures proposed by France’s fragile government.

“10 Septembre 2025 – c'est férie.” It’s a holiday. So says Indignons Nous, one of the loose coalition of French protest groups coordinating a day of action from Calais to Corsica in protest against government cuts.

Under the banner “bloquons tout”  – “let’s block everything” – the aim is to paralyse France on 10th September with nationwide action characterised as a general strike.

For airline passengers flying to, from within or over France, 18th and 19th September are the key dates. French air-traffic controllers belonging to the SNCTA union will walk out from the start of the morning shift on 18th September to the end of the night shift on 19th September.

The strike is likely to ground thousands of flights across Europe, including many that would simply cross France en route between the UK and Spain, Italy and beyond. A strike involving two smaller unions in early-July wrecked the travel plans for hundreds of thousands of travellers.

Eurostar does not at present expect any disruption to its services between Paris, Lille and London St Pancras International.

Information provided by SHAPE HIVE.