France is set to cancel over 16,000 flights in early 2024 due to the deployment of a new air traffic control system, 4-Flight, which is aimed at modernizing the country's air traffic control system. 

The French Government has invested €1 billion into the upgrade which is widely considered ‘long overdue’. The hope is for improvements in the  country’s air traffic control system so as to handle more flights and operate more efficiently

The upgrade is expected to cause significant disruption to air travel in France . Cancellations are expected to take place in January and February 2024. It will be at the discretion of airlines to decide which flights to cancel, though it is likely that long-distance routes will be prioritized.

Presently, Air France has already canceled more than 4,200 short and medium-haul flights during this period.

Though the mass cancellations will undoubtedly cause significant inconvenience to passengers and airlines alike, the update is considered a vital necessity nonetheless.