France general strike on November 5 to affect rail and potentially airports
03 Nov 2026
The action has been called by five major union confederations over wages, purchasing power, employment, public services and the government’s proposed 2027 budget. Railway workers, teachers, healthcare staff and civil servants are among those being encouraged to walk out.
Rail services: widespread cancellations likely
All four representative railway unions – CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots – have called on railway employees to strike.
The action could affect:
High-speed TGV services, including Ouigo and InOui.
Intercités long-distance trains.
Regional TER connections and suburban trains.
Paris-region commuter services.
International TGV connections to Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland.
Passengers could face cancellations, reduced frequencies and longer journey times. SNCF is expected to publish detailed traffic forecasts approximately 48 hours before the strike.
Paris public transport: uncertainty remains
Although no separate RATP strike notice had been confirmed until November 3, metro, bus and tram services could still experience disruption if additional workers join the national mobilization.
Demonstrations could also prompt temporary metro station closures, road restrictions and diversions, particularly around central Paris.
Airports and flights: possible cancellations
Air travel is another concern. Air traffic controllers employed by the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) are covered by public-sector strike notices, while unions representing aviation and airport employees have also encouraged participation to the general strike.
If air traffic controllers join the walkout, control centers could operate with reduced staffing, potentially forcing the DGAC to impose flight restrictions and airlines to cancel or reschedule services.
The authority is expected to clarify the situation on Wednesday, November 4. Both Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly could face disruption, while other French airports may also be affected.
