November 5 airport strike: what the DGAC has planned for Roissy and Orly

France’s Civil Aviation Authority has announced its decision on flights at Roissy and Orly on Thursday, November 5, 2026, amid a general strike. Flight schedules, access to the airports, passenger rights: here’s what you need to know before you travel.

The strike on Thursday, November 5, 2026 will affect more than just trains. Called by several unions representing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) and airport staff, the aviation sector will also be affected, from Paris-Charles de Gaulle in Roissy (Val-d'Oise) to Paris-Orly (Val-de-Marne). Good news for travelers: the DGAC has not asked airlines to reduce flights on Thursday, it told TourMaG on Wednesday, November 4.

Flights are therefore expected to operate as scheduled at both Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Paris-Orly. Delays remain possible, particularly at check-in counters and security checkpoints if ground staff heed the call to strike. And getting to the airports will be seriously complicated by the SNCF strike, especially access to Roissy.

Who is calling for a strike in the aviation sector?

FO filed strike notice as early as October 29, covering all staff at the DGAC, the École nationale de l’aviation civile and the Bureau d’enquêtes et d’analyses, starting Thursday morning, reports TourMaG. The USAC-CGT, the DGAC’s largest union, has called on its members to join the action, as has the UNSA-UTCAC.

At airports, SUD Aérien and UNSA Aérien are also calling on airport workers to walk off the job, including ground handling, security, cleaning and maintenance staff. This could mean longer waits at check-in or security, even if your flight is still operating.

Important point: the SNCTA, the majority union representing air traffic controllers, is not taking part in the strike, Volclaim notes. No strike notice from Air France pilots or crew was known by the end of October, according to Actu Alt Plus.

Why didn’t the DGAC reduce flights?

Air traffic controllers had until noon on Tuesday, November 3, to declare individually that they were on strike. The DGAC uses these declarations to check, center by center, whether there will be enough staff to handle air traffic.

If that is not the case, it asks airlines to reduce their flights at certain airports, setting a percentage and a time window. For this Thursday, it determined that this was not necessary.

This is a marked change from the September 29 strike. At the time, the DGAC had asked airlines to cut flights by 5% at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., and by up to 25% in the evening at Marseille-Provence, Deep Arrival reports. Orly was not affected.

How can you get to Roissy and Orly on Thursday?

It’s another headache today. The RER B, the main rail link to Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, will run only one train in two north of Gare du Nord because of the November 5 SNCF strike, according to Ma Ligne B. On weekdays, service is also suspended in the evenings from 10:45 p.m. between Châtelet-Les Halles and the airport for engineering work. Roissybus services from Opéra, and routes 350 and 351, remain alternatives, with RATP expecting its buses to run normally.

For Orly, Metro line 14 should run as normal, as the RATP has not filed a specific strike notice for the Metro on Thursday. Our practical guides to getting to Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport cover all the options, including taxis.

In any case, it’s best to set off earlier than usual and check traffic conditions in our metro, RER and train traffic update, updated daily.

Flight canceled: What are your rights?

Whatever the reason for the cancellation, the airline must offer you a refund or rerouting on another flight, as well as assistance (meals and, if necessary, a hotel) if the wait is prolonged. Be sure to keep your receipts.

The fixed compensation of €250 to €600, meanwhile, depends on who is striking. When the DGAC imposes flight reductions or airport staff walk off the job, this generally counts as “extraordinary circumstances,” and compensation is not due. It is due, however, if the airline’s own employees are on strike. For a package holiday, passengers should first contact their tour operator.

What should you do if you’re flying on Thursday?

The best thing to do is keep an eye on your airline’s emails and app this Wednesday evening, then check your flight status on the Paris Aéroport website on Thursday morning. Above all, allow plenty of time to get to the airport.

For the rest of the day (trains, metro, schools, protest), see our article on the general strike on November 5, 2026. We’ll update this article if there are any last-minute announcements.