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IN BRIEF |
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Attention travelers: Thursday September 18, 2025 is shaping up to be a dark day for transportation, against the backdrop of a national mobilization against the government’s Bayrou budget project. The aviation sector is expected to kick off with air traffic controllers on strike and a chain of cancellations, while RATP anticipates significant disruptions on subways, RER, and buses, and SNCF prepares for disrupted traffic depending on the lines. In short, it’s best to get organized now if you need to travel that day.
Thursday, September 18 is expected to be a day to mark with a red cross for users: a national mobilization against the Bayrou 2026 budget project should cause major disruptions in aviation, at RATP, and SNCF. On the agenda: strike notice from the air traffic controllers, unprecedented union unity at RATP, relatively unclear visibility on the SNCF side, and a tense social context (savings of €43.8 billion, two public holidays potentially eliminated, frozen benefits). Here’s what you need to know to avoid missing your flight, your RER, and – if possible – your good mood.
The eight major confederations – CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, FSU, and Solidaires – have decided to unite against the budget project put forth by the government of François Bayrou. The tone is aggressive: some union leaders refer to a true “catalog of horrors” in the budget, between cuts to public services, frozen benefits, and the elimination of two public holidays – a measure rejected by a large majority of French people according to an Odoxa poll.
The timing is no coincidence. Scheduled on a Thursday – the day that mobilizes the best – this day comes eight days after the citizen initiative of September 10 (“Block Everything”) and ten days after the government’s confidence vote. Goal: to channel a diffuse anger within a perfectly bounded framework, with strike notices and declared processions. Travelers will have to play the strategists: plan B, plan C, and even plan D if necessary.
Impacts on the Aviation Sector
It’s through the sky that the shocks will first be felt. The SNCTA (the major union of air traffic controllers, about 60% representativeness) has filed a national strike notice from the morning of September 18 until the end of the night service on the 19th. At the heart of the demands: salary adjustments in light of 2024 inflation and a restructuring of the governance of the profession. The Paris hubs – Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly – are expecting massive cancellations, potentially comparable to the movement in July (nearly a thousand flights canceled, about 125,000 travelers affected).
The Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, remains unyielding and asserts that he will not give in to the union’s demands. At Air France, CGT intends to join the movement, while CFDT is “likely” to issue a strike notice. Immediate consequence: companies will adjust their flight schedules on the fly and travelers are advised to check their flight status with the carrier before packing their bags.
Good to know regarding rights: in the case of a cancellation due to an air traffic control strike, passengers are entitled to a refund or rerouting, but not to any financial compensation, as this situation is generally considered an extraordinary circumstance. This reminder also applies to other crises, as seen during the very disrupted winter in the United States or episodes of storms causing weather warnings and chains of cancellations.
Impacts on the RATP
On the Île-de-France network, a “massive” mobilization is expected. The four major unions of RATP – CGT, FO, Unsa Mobilité, and CFE-CGC – have signed a joint statement, a rare unity that they claim represents nearly 90% of agents. Translation in user language: significant disruptions are expected on the metro, RER, and buses, with potentially halted areas, reduced frequencies, and diverted routes. Your preferred navigation app is going to get a workout.
Plan for early departures, remote work if possible, and alternative plans (bicycle, carpooling, brisk walking – yes, that counts). Useful reminder: RATP publishes its traffic forecasts the previous day around 5 PM. Major days of crowds and tension are a constant in transportation, as seen during the surge of travelers on May 1st or the May bridges on the rail side, like the weekend of May 8 marked by disruptions.
Impacts on the SNCF
The situation at SNCF is more nuanced. CFDT Cheminots has joined the call for September 18, but without detailing operational aspects for now. For its part, Sud-Rail – which initially focused on September 10 – will decide in the weeks leading up to the date. As for CGT-Cheminots, the company’s leading union, it is concentrating its efforts on the deadline of the 10th and has not yet finalized its position for the 18th. Result: visibility is partial, but travelers should expect repercussions on TGV, Intercity, and TER, varying by routes and regions.
As usual, the adapted transport plans will be communicated the day before at 5 PM on the websites and apps. Canceled or unoperated train tickets are generally exchangeable or refundable without charge. Anticipate delays, and if you have a connecting flight, allow for a large buffer – the rail/air connection is a martial art on strike days. Weather-related disruptions also remind us that the rail is not immune to external elements, as seen with the closure of schools and disrupted travels in Wales during the Eowyn storm.
Prepare and Stay Informed Without Losing Your Nerves
The watchword: anticipation. For aviation, keep an eye on your reservation and sign up for alerts from the airline; arrive a bit earlier to go through security, and avoid checked baggage if your flight is confirmed. For RATP and SNCF, keep an eye on the forecasts at 5 PM the day before, check line openings and frequencies, and have a fallback plan – scooter, coworking, videoconferencing, carpooling… yes, anything is worth considering.
This dark day is part of a sequence of social events where budgetary arbitrations – €43.8 billion in savings and new revenues according to the project – are fueling tensions. The unpopularity of eliminating public holidays (rejected by about 84% of respondents) adds fuel to the fire. September 18 will serve, for the unions, as an organized resonance box; for travelers, as a test of logistical agility. And if the weather intervenes, as during recent episodes of increased vigilance, caution will need to be doubled.
