The strike notice concerns pilots for national carrier Air France as well as other carriers with pilots on French labour contracts, and the industrial action will take place on Thursday. It is expected to only last a single day.
The union, which represents the majority of French pilots, has also called for a demonstration outside parliament, inviting other members of the airline industry to participate.
What about disruption for passengers?
Little disruption is expected for passengers, though some delays and changes to flight times are possible.
Air France still plans to run its entire flight schedule, according to French news outlet La Depeche. Similarly, Transavia will "operate 98 percent of its flights", the French press reported.
Low-cost carrier Easyjet has also said their planned "the flight schedule [will be] maintained", BFMTV reported.
Mobilisation was also expected to be low among pilots of French airlines that primarily operate routes between France and Corsica and/or France's overseas territories, such as Air Corsica, Corsair, Air Austral, and Air Caraïbes. These routes are not affected by the proposed tax increase.
Be sure to check your flight status before leaving for the airport.
Why are pilots going on strike?
A spokesperson for the SNPL explained that the strike is a protest "against the government's desire to raise an additional billion per year from the aviation sector."
The union is angry at the government's proposal to increase the solidarity tax on airline tickets which was included in the 2025 budget.
The SNPL spokesperson said the tax will see a three-fold increase that was being put through "without consultation of stakeholders in the sector having taken place".
The solidarity tax is paid directly by the passenger, and is added on to the cost of their ticket - it is currently set at just under €3 per economy class ticket and €18 per first class ticket.
But under the new budget the tax will increase per passenger for a normal economy class ticket to €9.50 for a destination in Europe, €15 for flights to intermediate destinations, and will cost €40 for long-distant destinations.
There will be steeper increases for first class tickets and private jets. The cost of a business class ticket from Paris to New York would increase by €120, under plans voted through by MPs last week.
Flights to France's overseas territories and Corsica won't be included under the planned tax hike.
The SNPL pilots union believes the tax increase will ultimately lead to thousands of job losses in France.
"This social disaster will go hand in hand with the weakening of French operators or those operating regularly in France compared to their European and international competitors," said the union.
On Sunday, France's Transport Minister François Durovray defended this tax increase telling France Info that the benefits of the tax increase were two-fold.
"This tax has both the virtue of contributing to the restoration of state accounts, but there is also an environmental aim," he said referring to the huge carbon emissions from flights.
He believes this tax could encourage airlines "to put more sustainable fuel in planes".
Raising the levy, particularly for long-haul flights, is supposed to generate additional revenue of €1 billion.
But the final budget that will go into law is still subject to haggling and given Prime Minister Michel Barnier does not have a majority in parliament it is unclear if the levy will be part of the final text.
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