Paris in the springtime is usually considered a lovely little jaunt. However, in recent days concerns have been raised about the escalation of strikes and protests in response to France’s proposed pension reforms.
On a coordinated day of action on March 23, hundreds of thousands took to the streets of the French capital, leading to violent clashes with police and destruction of property. Some 457 were arrested and 441 security forces injured, French ministers said on Friday. Protestors also blocked the motorway leading to Charles de Gaulle airport and the tracks at the Gare de Lyon, causing widespread travel disruption.
Discontent has been building for months over the reforms, which raise the national pension age by two years from 62 to 64. Currently, pensions cost the French government 330 billion euros annually, but President Macron’s attempts to reduce the burden have been met with outrage and a narrowly survived vote of no-confidence.
And now, a state visit from King Charles on March 28 has been cancelled after French unions called for another day of action to coincide with the trip. If the strike goes ahead, it will be the 10th day of protest over the reforms.
But is it safe to travel across the Channel and how likely are flight delays and cancellations? Here we run through everything you need to know if you are planning a trip to Paris in the coming weeks. This page will be updated to reflect the latest information.
Is it safe to travel to Paris right now?
As March 23 was a designated day of walkouts and protests across the country, there is an expectation that the streets will be calmer in the coming days. However, French unions have called for another day of nationwide strikes on Tuesday, March 28 to coincide with King Charles’ official visit, which has since been cancelled. And with no obvious resolution over the reforms, more action will likely be announced. That said, there are no travel warnings in place for France and travellers are simply being advised to monitor the situation.
It should be emphasised that, despite the dramatic scenes, the vast majority of protests have been peaceful and travellers are more likely to face strike-related delays than safety issues.
Are there any travel warnings in place for France?
The FCDO has not issued a warning against travel to France, but does offer some advice to travellers.
The official page reads: “On March 16, large scale demonstrations started in central Paris and elsewhere in France and police presence increased. Protests could turn violent and/or continue. These could lead to disruptions to road travel.