French Polynesia: Airport firefighters and civil servants call off territorywide strike as of Dec. 12 /update 1

Unionized airport firefighters under the Federation of Administration Agents of Polynesia (FRAAP) and public sector workers have withdrawn their strike across French Polynesia as of 05:00 Dec. 11. The action began Dec. 6 over several demands, including revisions to wage calculations. The work stoppage disrupted civil services and over 250 domestic flights, especially those offered by Air Moana (NM) and Air Tahiti (VT). Over 300 people protested near the Presidency building in Papeete during the strike, while skirmishes between passengers attempting to board available flights were reported.

Officials said domestic flight services will take several days to normalize as carriers clear passenger backlogs of over 4,000 people. However, air connections between Tahiti and Bora Bora, Nukutepipi, Raiatea, and Rangiroa, as well as international flight schedules at Tahiti's Fa'a'a International Airport (PPT) did not face any strike-related disruptions. Lingering disruptions may also affect government offices and other public sector workplaces.