France Braces for November 5 General Strike, With Rail Most at Risk and Airports Possibly Affected

France is preparing for a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations on Thursday, November 5, with rail services facing the greatest risk of disruption. Air travel, airport connections, urban transport and public services could also be affected. The action has been called by five major union confederations over wages, purchasing power, employment, public services and the government's proposed 2027 budget, and railway workers, teachers, healthcare staff and civil servants are among those being encouraged to walk out.

All four representative railway unions, CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots, have called on railway employees to strike. High-speed TGV services, including Ouigo and InOui, regional TER connections and suburban trains could be affected, with cancellations, reduced frequencies and longer journey times possible. SNCF is expected to publish detailed traffic forecasts about 48 hours before the strike. In Paris, no separate RATP strike notice had been confirmed as of November 3, but metro, bus and tram services could still be disrupted if additional workers join, and demonstrations could prompt temporary metro station closures, road restrictions and diversions around central Paris.

Air traffic controllers employed by the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) are covered by public-sector strike notices, and unions representing aviation and airport employees have also encouraged participation. If 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, and other French airports may also be affected.