Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Flight Compensation
France's aviation hub has a unique legal landscape: Air France strikes are NOT extraordinary. ATC strikes often ARE.
Paris CDG is Europe's second-busiest airport and operates under a legal framework that is critically different from UK airports. France has a tradition of aviation industrial action that creates specific nuances under EC261/2004 — Air France's own staff strikes are routinely NOT extraordinary, while French DGAC air traffic controller strikes (historically some of Europe's most frequent) often DO qualify. Understanding which cause affected your flight is the most important step in a CDG claim.
€600
Max payout (EC261)
77M
Passengers per year
4
Operational runways
Max Compensation
€600
per passenger · departing CDG
Average processing: 55 days
Free check · 5 years (French civil law) limit · No fee unless we win
01We Know CDG
CDG handles approximately 77 million passengers annually across 4 runways and 3 terminal complexes, making it the second-largest airport in Europe. Air France operates from T2 and accounts for over 50% of all CDG movements. Eurocontrol data shows CDG generated the third-highest total ATFM delay minutes in Europe in 2022–23, a significant proportion attributable to French DGAC ATC industrial action and capacity restrictions on high-traffic en-route sectors.
Our Success Rate
79%
on CDG-origin claims
Average Payout
€380
per passenger
Peak Disruption Periods
Spring (March–May)
French aviation industry strike season; ATC industrial action historically peaks in this window
July – August
Summer schedule peak; Air France Mediterranean rotation pressure; CDG ground handler capacity at limit
November strikes
Autumn industrial action cycle; Air France cabin crew and pilot union negotiations
Key Legal Nuance at CDG
What Makes CDG Claims Different
The CDG-specific legal complexity: French ATC strikes at CDG (DGAC controllers) have historically been ruled as extraordinary circumstances in some cases — but ONLY if the strike was genuinely unforeseeable and the airline took all reasonable preventive measures. Air France's own staff strikes (pilots, cabin crew, ground staff) are clearly NOT extraordinary under Krüsemann. Passengers who are told 'this was a strike' must verify whether it was the airline's own staff or DGAC controllers.
02Disruption Causes & Legal Status
What actually causes delays at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport — and whether each cause is extraordinary under EC261.
Air France Internal Staff Strikes
Not extraordinaryAir France has experienced recurring industrial action by its own employees — pilot unions (SNPL, SPAF), cabin crew (UNAC, SNPNC), and ground staff. These strikes have caused widespread cancellations and delays at CDG, particularly in 2018 (14-day pilot strike), 2022 (cabin crew actions), and 2023 (ongoing industrial disputes). Air France consistently attempts to classify these as extraordinary circumstances.
Internal Air France strikes are NOT extraordinary circumstances under EC261. The ECJ ruled definitively in Krüsemann (C-195/17, 2018) that 'wildcat' and organised internal staff industrial action does not qualify. Managing employment relations and labour disputes is a fundamental part of running an airline. Air France has lost multiple claims on this basis at French courts and Médiateur Tourisme et Voyage.
DGAC ATC Industrial Action (French Controllers)
May be extraordinaryFrench DGAC air traffic controllers (controllers employed by the state) conduct regular industrial action, often giving 5 days' minimum notice as required by French law. DGAC strikes disproportionately affect CDG because the airport is the hub for France's en-route airspace (UIR Paris). In a DGAC strike, all European airlines operating through French airspace are affected.
DGAC ATC strikes by state-employed controllers may qualify as extraordinary circumstances — but the airline must still prove it took all reasonable measures to avoid the disruption, including re-routing options. If the strike was announced 5+ days in advance (as required by French law) and the airline still chose not to re-route or pre-cancel with proper notification, the extraordinary circumstances defence weakens significantly.
CDG Ground Handler Strikes (Prestataires)
Not extraordinaryCDG's third-party ground handlers — including Acciona, Aéroports de Paris's own ground services division, and contract baggage handlers — have faced regular industrial action. These strikes affect ground handling, baggage loading, and fuelling operations. Unlike Air France's own strikes, these are more difficult to categorise legally.
Third-party ground handler strikes at CDG fall into the same category as airline staff strikes under current EC261 interpretation — they are part of the normal operational risk an airline assumes by contracting these services. Airlines cannot pass this risk to passengers as extraordinary circumstances.
European En-Route Airspace Congestion
Not extraordinaryCDG is positioned within one of Europe's most congested en-route airspace sectors (France Upper, Central Europe). Eurocontrol regularly issues ATFM regulations affecting CDG departures and arrivals, especially during peak summer days. This is distinct from a strike — it is structural capacity management in high-demand airspace.
Foreseeable en-route ATFM restrictions are not extraordinary circumstances. Eurocontrol capacity management is a known, systemic feature of European aviation — particularly in the France Upper sector. Airlines operating at CDG cannot cite predictable summer congestion as extraordinary.
CDG Terminal Complexity / Transit Issues
Not extraordinaryCDG's three terminal complexes (T1, T2, T3) require automated people movers and significant walk times for connections. CDG is one of Europe's most frequently cited airports for missed connection complaints, particularly for passengers connecting through T1 to T2 on Air France code-share itineraries.
Missed connections due to CDG's terminal layout are within the airline's (and specifically the codeshare partner's) control when booking minimum connection times. If you were booked on a single reservation with a codeshare itinerary and missed a connection at CDG, you have a valid claim if the minimum connection time was insufficient.
03Highest-Disruption Routes
Routes departing CDG with the highest documented delay rates. Based on Eurocontrol CODA data and FlightStats.
| Route | Airline(s) | Delay Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| CDG → JFK | Air France | 10% delay rate — morning slot pressure, ATC flow |
| CDG → ORD (Chicago) | Air France | 9% delay rate — transcontinental slot congestion |
| CDG → DXB | Air France / Emirates | 8% delay rate — evening peak departures |
| CDG → NCE (Nice) | Air France / easyJet | 13% delay rate — domestic French ATC restrictions |
| CDG → MRS (Marseille) | Air France | 12% delay rate — French domestic ATC capacity |
| CDG → BCN (Barcelona) | Vueling / Air France | 9% delay rate, summer peak |
04How We Handle CDG Claims
You submit your flight details
Takes 2 minutes. We need your flight number, travel date, and what happened. No paperwork required upfront.
We verify the CDG-specific cause
For CDG claims, the critical first step is identifying whether the disruption was caused by Air France's own staff (always claimable) or French DGAC ATC controllers (requires case-by-case analysis). We cross-reference official DGAC strike declarations, Air France industrial action logs, and Eurocontrol ATFM records for your specific flight date to build an accurate cause determination before submission. We then submit directly to the relevant handler — in France, claims below €600 can be submitted via Médiateur Tourisme et Voyage ADR, which has a favourable resolution rate against Air France.
Submission, escalation, and payment
French air passenger claims have a 5-year statute of limitations under French civil law. Air France processes approved claims via bank transfer, typically within 5–10 business days. Médiateur Tourisme et Voyage provides free ADR mediation and is mandatory to attempt before French court action.
05EC261 at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Regulation covering departures from CDG
All flights departing from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) are covered by EC Regulation 261/2004 (EC261). This applies to all airlines — Air France, easyJet, Ryanair, Vueling, Delta, American, United, Emirates, and all others — for flights departing from CDG. Maximum EC261 compensation: €250 (under 1,500km), €400 (1,500–3,500km), €600 (over 3,500km). Claim time limit: 5 years under French civil law.
06Frequently Asked Questions
Real questions from passengers who flew from CDG.
Air France told me my CDG flight was cancelled due to a strike — but can I claim if it was their own staff on strike?
Yes. Air France internal staff strikes — whether by pilots (SNPL/SPAF unions), cabin crew, or ground staff — are not extraordinary circumstances under EC261. The ECJ ruling in Krüsemann v TUIfly (2018) is directly applicable. Air France cannot use its own labour disputes as a shield against passenger compensation. Submit the claim; if they reject citing the strike, escalate to Médiateur Tourisme et Voyage.
There was a French ATC (DGAC) strike on the day of my CDG flight — do I have a claim?
Possibly, but it depends on the specifics. DGAC controller strikes may qualify as extraordinary circumstances, but only if the airline can prove it took all reasonable measures to avoid the disruption. If the DGAC strike was announced 5+ days in advance (as required by French law) and your airline didn't proactively offer re-routing, this weakens their defence. We assess this on a case-by-case basis.
I missed a connecting flight at CDG on a single Air France booking — what am I owed?
If both legs were on a single booking and your final destination arrival was 3hr+ late, you're entitled to EC261 compensation based on the full journey distance (departure point to final destination). Air France is also obliged to rebook you on the next available flight at no charge. CDG connection claims are particularly strong when the minimum connection time was insufficient.
How long do I have to claim for a CDG disruption?
Under French civil law, you have 5 years from the date of the disrupted flight to submit an EC261 claim. France has one of the more generous time limits in Europe. If your claim involves a non-French airline, the applicable time limit may be determined by the law of the country where the airline is headquartered.