Paris airport employees strike before the Olympics due to bonus dispute

In the run-up to the Olympic Games, workers at Paris Airport announced that they would go on strike, citing a disagreement over employee bonuses as the main reason.

The strike, scheduled for the week before the Olympic Games, is set to take place on July 17, just nine days before the Games’ opening ceremony. Several major unions, including CGT, FO, UNSA and CFDT, have already announced their intention to launch a strike during this critical period.

The unions criticise the selective distribution of bonuses to a few people. They are demanding that all employees of Aéroports de Paris (ADP), the state-owned company that operates both Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Paris-Orly Airport (ORY), receive an Olympic bonus.

Photo: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Courtesy of Alain Leduc for Groupe ADP

At the end of May, unionised airport workers in Paris went on strike over Olympic-related pay disputes, but disruption was limited. This time, however, there could be significant disruption to operations, as an estimated 350,000 people will pass through Charles De Gaulle and Orly international airports every day during the Olympics.

In addition, thousands of athletes from all over the world will arrive in the city from July 18, the scheduled opening date of the Athletes’ Village. A large temporary baggage terminal at Charles De Gaulle is planned to handle items such as bicycles, canoes and kayaks to accommodate their equipment.

Olympic Games logo on the Arc de Triomphe / Photo: Courtesy of @Paris2024/PhilippeMillereau/kmsp

However, unions have thwarted the organisation’s plans, arguing that airport employees are entitled to compensation for their work during the period from July 26 to August 11, the traditional French summer holiday period.

The demand for higher wages goes beyond aviation. Train drivers, police officers, air traffic controllers, garbage collectors, firefighters and government employees have also made monetary demands, putting pressure on employers to prevent mass unrest.

Expected slowdown in tourist traffic

Despite the influx of Olympic spectators, Air France-KLM warned of poor financial results due to the reduced number of leisure visitors to Paris during the Games. Last week, the French airline announced an expected loss of 180 million euros ($193 million) for the third quarter.

With the increasing crowds, inflated prices and general chaos of the Olympics, tourists appear to be avoiding the City of Lights. “International markets are showing significant avoidance of Paris,” the airline said. “Travel between the city and other destinations is also below the usual June-August average, as residents of France appear to be postponing their vacations until after the Olympics or considering alternative travel plans.”

Photo: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Courtesy of Gwen Le Bras for Groupe ADP

After the Olympic Games, international travel to France is expected to stabilize. “Encouraging demand is forecast for the end of August and the month of September.”

Despite the possible decline in tourist numbers, the Olympic Games could bring in an estimated nine billion euros for Paris, according to an independent study by the Centre for Law and Economics of Sport (CDES).

“The lower demand we are seeing in the early summer months can be seen as a temporary adjustment,” said Christina Choueifaty, senior account manager at STR, a hotel industry analytics firm. “In the long term, the Olympics will further cement the city’s position as a major tourist destination and may attract even more demand in the future.”