In a landmark decision for the French aviation industry, a court in the city of Bayonne has officially recognized a former flight attendant’s breast cancer as an occupational disease. The ruling, which was issued in early July, marks a significant legal precedent for the sector, according to the legal counsel and the CFDT trade union representing the claimant, Sophie Lainault.
Lainault, 59, served as a flight attendant and later as a purser for Air France, the country’s flagship carrier, between 1989 and 2019. Throughout her three-decade career, she accumulated over 12,600 flight hours, which included more than 6,500 hours logged during night shifts. Now in remission, the Anglet resident expressed hope that her legal victory would encourage other women in similar circumstances to pursue their own cases. "It is truly my dearest wish that this opens the way for other women who might not have dared until now," she said.
The court’s decision specifically identified the occupational origins of her illness, highlighting the cumulative impact of night work, exposure to ionising radiation, and passive smoking. Notably, smoking was permitted on Air France flights until the year 2000. While two regional committees had previously concluded that no link had been established, the court ultimately sided with Lainault after a two-and-a-half-year legal battle supported by CFDT activists. The ruling is final and no appeal has been lodged, according to her lawyer, Elisabeth Leroux. The decision allows Lainault to transition into early retirement.
While breast cancer is not currently on the official French list of occupational diseases, this ruling follows a similar 2023 case involving a French nurse who successfully argued that 28 years of night shifts and radiation exposure contributed to her cancer. Some studies have suggested that women who regularly work night shifts may face a higher risk of developing cancer. Breast cancer remains the deadliest cancer among women in France, with nearly 13,000 deaths annually.
In response to the ruling, Air France stated that it "was not a party to the proceedings and has not been informed of the court’s reasoning." The airline added: "The health and safety of employees at work is an absolute priority."
