In the coming days, thousands of travellers departing from the Paris region could see their travel plans disrupted. The inter-union group of employees at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport has filed strike notice for Wednesday, June 18, 2026, targeting the three major airport platforms in the Paris region at the same time: Roissy-CDG, Orly and Le Bourget. Here is everything you need to know to anticipate the situation and protect your trip.

Why this strike at Paris airports?

At the origin of this labour action is a dispute over security clearances — the essential authorizations required to access restricted airport areas, including runways, baggage holds and ground handling areas. Without this precious badge, an employee simply cannot work on the tarmac.

Since the arrival of a new prefect delegated to airport security in 2024, unions have denounced a policy they consider much more restrictive in the review of these clearances. Some employees are refused or stripped of their authorizations, sometimes after many years of service, which in some cases leads to dismissal.

“This concerns, for example, jobs linked to baggage handling or ground handling assistance”, explains Daniel Bertone, general secretary of CGT ADP (Aéroports de Paris). The unions believe this tightening threatens the jobs of many employees who are essential to the proper operation of the platforms.

A rally is planned at 10 a.m. in front of the Roissy-CDG airport prefecture, at terminal 1, to make this mobilization visible. The ADP group, which employs only a fraction of the workers on these platforms, declined to comment on the situation.

Which airports and which sectors are affected?

The three major airport platforms in the Paris region are affected by this movement:

• Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) — France’s largest air hub, welcoming tens of millions of passengers each year
• Orly (ORY) — the main airport for domestic flights and low-cost European destinations
• Le Bourget (LBG) — mainly dedicated to business aviation

The jobs most directly affected are those operating in restricted areas: baggage handlers, ground handling agents, runway staff. A slowdown or paralysis of these services quickly affects all operations: delayed boarding, blocked baggage, cancelled flights.

Disruptions already noticeable before June 18

Social tensions around Paris airports did not begin on June 18. As early as June 12, 2026, the Paris-region platforms recorded no fewer than 646 delays and 17 cancellations in a single day, affecting Paris-CDG, Orly, Nice, Marseille and Lyon. It was a preview of the difficulties that could intensify on the day of mobilization.

For airlines, the situation is especially delicate in a context of social tensions across Europe. Knock-on delays from one airport quickly spread through international connection networks, amplifying the impact for connecting passengers.

What should you expect on June 18, 2026?

It is still difficult to quantify precisely the scale of disruptions on June 18. This will depend on the level of participation in the strike. But given the union mobilization, several scenarios should be considered:

• Major delays on many flights, especially in the morning and early afternoon, when departure flows are densest
• Flight cancellations, especially on short-haul routes operated by low-cost airlines
• Unusually long queues at check-in counters and baggage desks
• Cascading rescheduling over the following days, potentially affecting travellers until June 19 or 20

In France, in the event of a strike in air transport, airlines must inform passengers at least 24 hours in advance if their flight is cancelled or heavily delayed.

Practical advice for travellers on June 18

Do you have a flight scheduled on June 18 from Roissy-CDG, Orly or Le Bourget? Here are the steps to take without delay:

• Check your flight status regularly: consult your airline’s website or app. Enable SMS or email notifications to be alerted in real time.
• Arrive well in advance: if your flight is maintained, plan to arrive at least 3 hours before departure (3.5 hours for long-haul flights), to absorb delays at the counters.
• Check in online: if your airline allows it, check in from your phone or computer 24 to 48 hours before the flight to avoid queues.
• Travel with cabin baggage if possible: as disruptions often affect baggage services, consider taking only hand luggage to avoid loss or delay risks.
• Prepare your airline contacts: note your airline’s customer service number and email address. In case of a problem, you will need them quickly.
• Check your bank card guarantees: some premium cards (Visa Premier, Gold Mastercard) include travel cover in case of delay or cancellation. Review your terms before leaving.

Your rights in case of delay or cancellation

European Regulation EC 261/2004 protects air passengers in the event of significant disruptions. Here are the key points:

• Delay of more than 2 hours: right to care (meals, drinks, access to communications).
• Delay of more than 3 hours at destination: right to fixed compensation from 250 € to 600 € depending on flight distance, except in extraordinary circumstances.
• Cancelled flight: right to a full ticket refund or rerouting to your final destination, as soon as possible or on a date of your choice.

Warning: a strike by airport staff, separate from airline staff, may be considered an extraordinary circumstance by some airlines, exempting them from fixed compensation. Do not hesitate to seek help from a specialized service such as AirHelp or ClaimCompass if you believe you are entitled to compensation.

How to follow the situation in real time?

To stay informed until June 18 and on the day itself, several resources are available:

• The official Aéroports de Paris website (aeroportsdeparis.fr) publishes bulletins in case of major disruptions.
• The FlightRadar24 and FlightAware apps let you track your flight status in real time.
• Your airline website and app remain your main references — check them the day before your trip.
• The official social media accounts of Air France, Transavia, easyJet or Vueling also relay information in case of disruptions.

This June 18 strike comes amid persistent social tensions in the French air transport sector. The best defence remains anticipation: check your flight now and pay close attention to your airline’s communications in the coming days. Have a good trip!