When you’re at the airport or even before your flight takes off, the announcement of an Air France strike can seriously disrupt your travel plans. Indemniflight is here to guide you through the complications caused by airline strikes.
Strikes in the aviation sector are a special case, with two distinct scenarios to consider:
- If the strike results from circumstances external to the airline, you are entitled to compensation. However, if Air France can prove that the strike was unavoidable and unforeseeable, it may be exempt from this obligation.
- If the Air France strike is the result of an internal conflict involving the airline and its staff, then Air France is required to compensate you, regardless of the circumstances.
How to Claim Compensation if You’re Affected by an Air France Strike?
The French airline often experiences disruptions due to various social movements. If your Air France flight is canceled or delayed due to a strike by the airline, it’s important not to forget to claim compensation.
Indemniflight explains in this guide what your rights are and the steps to take to get compensated in such a situation.
Your Rights in Case of a Flight Disrupted by an Air France Strike
According to European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, every air passenger is eligible to receive compensation when their flight is disrupted. Airline strikes are among the most common reasons for cancellations and delays within the EU.
In cases of a strike that originates from the airline itself, lawmakers consider that the airline could have taken the necessary steps to avoid disrupting your journey. Compensation may be owed to each passenger, unless the French airline can prove it took all appropriate measures and that the disruption could not have been avoided.
In addition to this compensation, the airline must also offer you an alternative means of transportation.
Waiting Times You Should Know to Be Eligible for Compensation
The French airline must also provide refreshments and meals once the departure delay passes a threshold that depends on the distance of the flight (Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004):
- two hours or more for flights of 1500 km or less;
- three hours or more for all intra-Community flights of more than 1500 km and for all other flights between 1500 and 3500 km;
- four hours or more for all flights falling under neither of the two previous cases.
Once the delay reaches five hours, you may give up the trip: Air France must then refund your ticket within seven days — the parts of the journey not made, and those already made if the flight no longer serves any purpose in relation to your original travel plan (Article 8(1)(a), applied through Article 6(1)(iii)). That refund and the flat-rate compensation of €250 to €600 rest on two distinct legal bases, and they do not automatically add up: delay compensation requires a delay of at least three hours on arrival, which is not the case if you give up the trip.
What Conditions Must Be Met to Receive Compensation for an Air France Strike?
Although the law provides for compensation in the event of travel disruption, this compensation can only be claimed when certain conditions are met.
- The route. Any flight departing from an airport in the European Union is covered by Regulation EC 261/2004, whatever the nationality of the airline. In the other direction, a flight leaving a third country for the EU is only covered if it is operated by a European airline — which is the case for Air France. The detailed table of the situations covered sets out the four possible combinations.
- No fault to prove. You do not have to demonstrate any wrongdoing by Air France: compensation is owed as of right as soon as the conditions of the regulation are met, and it is for the carrier to prove that it faced extraordinary circumstances in order to be released from that obligation (Article 5(3)).
- The length of the flight delay is another key condition for eligibility. The aircraft must land with a delay of at least 3 hours before you can request compensation.
Let’s say you were scheduled to depart from Paris and land in New York at 9:00 PM. Unfortunately, your flight was delayed due to an Air France strike, and you finally arrived at your destination at 12:30 AM.
In this case, it is important to request a delay confirmation from the airline in order to submit a claim for long-haul compensation, as the total delay is 3 hours and 30 minutes. However, if the plane lands before midnight, you will not be eligible for any compensation.
Moreover, there is a limitation period beyond which you can no longer take the airline to court. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 sets none of its own: the applicable period is the one of the national law of the court seised. In France it is five years from the date of the flight (Article 2224 of the Civil Code); elsewhere, check the exact period that applies before you act.
The law provides exceptions to compensation in the event of a strike
In some cases, the airline is not obligated to compensate passengers. This includes extraordinary circumstances such as:
- Severe weather and atmospheric conditions.
- IT failures at the air traffic control tower.
- Strikes by airport staff…
In fact, a work stoppage by key airport personnel cannot be held against your airline. Additionally, if the airline informed you at least 14 days in advance of a disruption to your flight, it is exempt from paying any compensation.
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Our Tips in Case of an Air France Strike
When the airline announces a staff work stoppage, still go to the airport!
You must be on time for check-in. In fact, the airline may offer passengers a replacement flight with similar conditions to the original journey. If you miss it, you will no longer be able to claim compensation.
Stay near the boarding gates and check with the airline for the exact time your flight is rescheduled so you don’t wait unnecessarily at the airport.
When you have confirmation of the delay or cancellation of your Air France flight, you should keep the following documents:
- The delay certificate.
- The boarding pass.
- The electronic ticket.
- The booking confirmation…
These documents will help you build a solid case when claiming compensation. Don’t forget to also keep receipts and proof of any expenses you incurred due to the Air France strike. The airline may reimburse these costs in addition to your compensation.
Amount of compensation you can claim
To avoid any confusion about the compensation amount you can claim in the event of an incident, lawmakers have established a fairly clear scale. It is based on the distance traveled rather than the ticket price.
Here is an overview of the compensation you may be entitled to:
| Distance traveled | Compensation amount |
| Flight of less than 1500 km | 250 euros |
| Flight between 1500 km and 3500 km, and intra-Community flights of more than 3500 km | 400 euros |
| Flight of more than 3500 km outside the European Union | 600 euros |
Because Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte are part of the European Union, a flight between mainland France and the French overseas departments (Paris ↔ Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, Cayenne or Saint-Denis de La Réunion, for instance) is an intra-Community flight: compensation is capped at €400 per passenger, however long the flight (Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation EC 261/2004). The €600 amount only applies to routes of more than 3500 km outside the EU, such as Paris ↔ New York.
You can also use the compensation calculator available on Indemniflight’s website to find out the exact amount that applies to your case. Then, simply submit your file to us and we’ll defend your rights with Air France.
In addition to increasing your chances of success by appointing our experts to represent you, you won’t have to pay anything until your case is successfully resolved. We only charge a 35% commission on the compensation granted to you by the airline.
How can you reduce the impact of an Air France strike?
If your trip is canceled due to this kind of event, not all is lost. There are alternatives that can help you salvage your travel plans.
Booking a seat on another flight
Rebooking on another aircraft is a common and effective solution that helps minimize the damage in case of industrial action.
If the rerouting is initiated by the airline, you will no longer be eligible for compensation. However, if you book another flight on your own, you will have the right to request compensation from the airline.
Traveling using another mode of transportation
When your flight is canceled due to an Air France strike, you may request to exchange your plane ticket for a train ticket. If, on the other hand, you choose to rent a car to reach your destination, the airline is not obliged to reimburse you. If it agrees to cover the cost, the terms must be negotiated and documented in writing.
Steps to obtain compensation directly from Air France
If Air France is required to compensate you, the amount will depend on the length of your flight:
- €250 for flights up to 1500 km;
- €400 for flights between 1500 and 3500 km, as well as for intra-Community flights of more than 3500 km (mainland France ↔ the French overseas departments, for example);
- €600 for flights of more than 3500 km outside the European Union.
To submit a claim directly to the airline, you must:
- send a written complaint with all supporting documents and amounts,
- if denied: contact the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC),
- or even initiate legal proceedings.
Why should you turn to Indemniflight in case of flight disruption?
Filing a claim can be time-consuming and offers no guarantee of success. In fact, airlines like Air France often tend to avoid processing claims thoroughly, citing extraordinary circumstances—even in cases of strikes.
That’s why we strongly recommend that you call on Indemniflight to assist you with your claim! Don’t waste any time and submit your case now to get the compensation you’re entitled to!
Recent Air France Strike Timeline
- December 14, 2023. Air France employees protested the airline’s decision to leave Paris Orly airport. A joint union called for a strike on December 14, filing an official notice and organizing a demonstration at Paris Orly. Despite this, the airline maintained its flight schedule for the day.
- July 3, 2019. The SNPL HOP council authorized its board to issue a strike notice for pilots of Air France’s subsidiary HOP. These pilots were seeking clarity on their request to be integrated into Air France.
- June 2019. Strike threat by staff at Paris Orly airport. In a statement, the CGT Air France section expressed the staff’s frustration. They complained about the lack of resources to do their jobs and demanded permanent hires.
- May 3–4 and May 7–8, 2019. Strike by SNPL pilots who feared the elimination of their retirement fund. They were also concerned about the erosion of their representation. This strike affected not only Air France but all French airlines.
- April 27, 2019. The CGT Air France section called for a strike via social media. The union urged a national mobilization to demand government action on issues affecting workers, students, retirees… The union specifically demanded an increase in the minimum wage and a reduction of the working week to 32 hours.
- September 15–28, 2014. Strike by SNPL pilots. They demanded the implementation of a single pilot contract that would cover both Air France and Transavia. This strike cost Air France €425 million.
- February 6–9, 2012. All air transport unions launched a strike to oppose the Diard Law. This law extended the legal obligation to declare a strike 48 hours in advance to the air transport sector. This movement went beyond just an Air France strike.
In relation to Air France
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