A court in Bayonne has ruled that the breast cancer of a former Air France flight attendant is an occupational disease, a decision believed to be the first of its kind in the French aviation sector. The ruling, issued in early July, could open the door for other cabin crew members seeking similar recognition.
Sophie Lainault, now 59 and in remission, worked for Air France from 1989 to 2019, first as a flight attendant and later as chief purser on long-haul routes. Over her three-decade career, she logged more than 12,600 flight hours, including over 6,500 at night.
Night work, radiation and passive smoking
The court took into account several occupational factors: her regular night work, exposure to ionising radiation at high altitude, and passive smoking, as smoking was permitted on Air France aircraft until 2000. The judges also noted that no genetic predisposition or lifestyle-related cause could explain her illness.
The ruling follows a lengthy legal battle. Two regional committees that assess occupational diseases had previously concluded that the link between her work and her cancer was not established. Because breast cancer is not on France's official list of occupational diseases, obtaining recognition requires a special procedure that is often long and complex. Lainault says she fought for two and a half years, supported by activists from the CFDT union.
Her lawyer, Élisabeth Leroux, said the judgment, which has not been appealed, could set a legal precedent and encourage other flight crew to come forward. "It is truly my dearest wish that this opens the way for other women who, until now, might not have dared to come forward," Lainault said.
The recognition allows Lainault to take early retirement. Air France, which was not a party to the proceedings, said it had not been informed of the court's reasoning. The airline stressed that "employees' health and safety at work are an absolute priority."
This is not the first time breast cancer has been recognised as an occupational disease in France. In 2023, a nurse who had worked nights for 28 years and been exposed to radiation obtained a similar ruling. Breast cancer remains the deadliest cancer among women in France, causing nearly 13,000 deaths each year.
The decision comes amid broader debates about occupational health and the long-term effects of night work and radiation exposure. For flight crews across Europe, the ruling may prompt a re-examination of working conditions and health protections. As advances in cancer detection continue, such legal precedents highlight the importance of recognising occupational risks.
While the ruling applies to a single case, its implications could extend beyond France. European aviation unions have long called for better health monitoring for cabin crew, citing studies that link long-haul flying to higher rates of certain cancers. The Bayonne court's decision may add momentum to those calls.
For Lainault, the recognition is both personal and symbolic. "I hope this will help other women who have suffered in silence," she said. Her case underscores the challenges faced by workers in industries where occupational hazards are not always officially acknowledged.
