January 1 easyJet strike: French union calls for ‘zero take-offs’

A strike by easyJet cabin crew based in France is set to cause disruption to New Year travel, with a union calling for ‘zero take-offs’ on January 1, 2026. 

A one-day strike motion for New Year’s Day has been filed by UNAC, a minority union representing French cabin crew, after mandatory annual negotiations between the group and easyJet management broke down.

The union points to an unstable scheduling system that has knock-on effects across the airline.

Although UNAC is not the major union in the sector, disruption is expected across French airports including the low-cost carrier’s six main bases of Paris Orly, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Nice, Bordeaux, Lyon, and Nantes.

While a day of ‘zero-takeoffs’ seems unlikely without other unions backing the action, a number of flights may be cancelled with further disruption expected across the airline’s network. 

Early flights - the first of several along short-haul routes - are most likely to be affected, particularly if cabin crew are mainly located in France.

The airline could look to announce a revised schedule for January 1 for flights to and from France – although as of December 29 this has not been done – and may offer free alternative flights for affected passengers.

Those travelling to or from France with the airline on January 1 should keep up to date with the status of their flight via email alerts or through the easyJet app.

Although most airlines remain grounded on Christmas Day, many including easyJet and fellow low-cost carriers Ryanair and Jet2 operate normal or near-normal schedules on January 1.

Scheduling issues at heart of conflict

Currently, UNAC is focusing its attention on a majorly-disruptive single day of action, and no other strike motions have been filed.

Prior to Christmas Day the major union representing easyJet cabin crew in France, the SNPNC-FO, was threatening strike action ‘over the Christmas period’ after failed negotiations with airline management, also over scheduling issues.

A last-minute deal including several promises over improved scheduling saw the major union call off all future strike action on December 24. This means the SNPNC-FO will not join UNAC on January 1, minimising the extent of the disruption.

UNAC members voted by 64.2% to reject management negotiations, and the union says it is calling for the strike largely over scheduling issues and ‘operational chaos’ that burdens cabin crew, passengers, and even the airline. 

There has been “profound deterioration of working conditions,” for cabin crew, said the union in a press release announcing the strike. 

“it is no longer uncommon to experience several schedule changes in a single day, often at the last minute,” which makes it ‘impossible’ for crew members to have a consistent personal life. 

“Many colleagues, experiencing burnout, share their distress with us daily,” the union added, saying a number of these end up on sick-leave. 

In addition, the union argues better scheduling is needed to improve the airline’s own situation.

The cost of sick-leave, short-term accommodation for cabin crew members scrambled onto different flights, ‘positioning’ costs for moving employees around, and refunds to passengers affected by changes is causing a financial strain on the airline, says the union. 

“Stabilising schedules is now both a social and economic necessity.”