News Digest: Airplane Strikes, Hunting Season & Your Moving to France Qs Answered

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News Digest: Airplane Strikes, Hunting Season & Your Moving to France Qs Answered

Air traffic strikes are set to cause disruption to travel this week, hunting season reopens in France, plus how to follow the France Rugby World Cup 2023. Here are the French news stories you need to know about this week.

1. September Air Strikes

The SNCTA (Syndicat national des contrôleurs du trafic aérien), France’s union for air traffic controllers has called a nationwide strike for this Friday, September 15th. The strikes, which are over a call for inflation-related pay rises, are likely to impact travel across the country, with potential delays or cancellations of both domestic and international flights.

It’s unknown at the time of writing how many flights will be affected, but if you plan to fly this Friday, we recommend keeping an eye out for travel updates and cancellations. Typically, airports will be informed 48 hours in advance of any cancelled flights, and most airlines will aim to inform passengers of any changes at this stage. If your flight is still going ahead, it’s still a good idea to leave extra time at the airport for check-in and security, as understaffing is likely to lead to delays.

2. Hunting Season

France’s annual hunting season, La Chasse, opens this week, meaning that licenced hunters can once again hunt on public land (and private land where permission is granted). The official opening dates of the hunting season vary throughout the different French departments but fall between September 10th and September 17th – you can consult the full list of dates here. The hunting season runs through until late February or March, again depending on the department.

If you live in or plan to visit rural areas to hike, cycle, or walk your dog, it’s important to be extra careful during this season. Incidents of accidental shootings unfortunately do occur, so stick to marked trails, keep your dog on a leash, and make sure you wear reflective clothing at all times. While many hunts are not advertised, your local Mairie will typically know of any large hunts taking place in the area, so it’s worth checking with them and avoiding known hunting areas whenever possible.

You can read our two-part guide to La Chasse here and here.

3. France Rugby World Cup

Last Friday, September 8th, marked the start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, kicking off with a grand opening ceremony followed by the inaugural match between France and New Zealand. The event takes place over the next seven weeks with 48 matches between 20 nations, spread out over nine host cities – Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Paris (Saint-Denis), Nantes, Nice, Saint-Étienne, and Toulouse.

While tickets for the matches have long sold out, there is a resale section on the France Rugby World Cup website (here), so you might get lucky! Alternatively, each of the host cities has a dedicated “Rugby Village” with large screens and fan zones showing all of the matches.

To follow the Rugby World Cup and explore the host cities along the way, check out our dedicated Rugby Zone over on our sister site, France Today.

4. Get your questions in NOW for next week’s webinar!

From applying for a French visa to enrolling in the French healthcare system or exchanging your driver’s licence – there’s a lot to do when you move to France. That’s why we’ve put together a special edition FrenchEntrée webinar: Your Moving to France To-Do List: Visas, Healthcare, Paperwork.

I’ll be joined by an expert advisor from relocation specialists Please Help to talk you through all the official steps you’ll need to take to set up your new life in France. There will be plenty of opportunities to put your questions directly to our expert, and you can also send them to me in advance at [email protected].

Join me next Thursday, 21st September, at 2:00pm GMT+1 (London time) 3:00pm (Paris time) – sign up here.

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FrenchEntrée's Digital Editor, Zoë is also a freelance journalist who has written for the Telegraph, HuffPost, and CNN, and a guidebook updater for the Rough Guide to France and Rough Guide to Dordogne & Lot. She lives in the French countryside just outside of Nantes.

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Comments

  •  Heidi P. Crader
    2023-09-30 11:10:46
    Heidi P. Crader
    Thank you for this comprehensive news digest. The section regarding hunting season is particularly enlightening, especially for newcomers in France who may not be familiar with the local hunting traditions and schedules. It's beneficial to be informed about such activities for safety and local engagement purposes. Additionally, the portion answering queries about moving to France is incredibly helpful. The detailed insights into the process, coupled with practical advice, serve as a reliable guide for those considering a move. The unfortunate incident of the airplane strikes just shows how unpredictable situations can be, and the importance of staying updated with local news. This digest encapsulates a lot of essential information, making it a one-stop read for anyone keen on keeping up with various facets of life in France. Keep up the excellent work!

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