French flight attendant wins landmark case recognizing cancer as occupational disease

A court in Bayonne, France, has officially recognized the breast cancer of a former Air France flight attendant, Sophie Lenoir, as an occupational disease. This ruling marks a historic milestone in the aviation sector, as it is the first time such a condition has been officially linked to a flight attendant's work environment. Lenoir, now 59, served the airline from 1989 to 2019, accumulating over 12,600 flight hours, more than 6,500 of which were flown at night.

The court decision highlighted that Lenoir’s work involved frequent night shifts and significant exposure to secondhand smoke, which was permitted on Air France flights until the year 2000. Lenoir, who is currently in remission, expressed hope that her legal victory will encourage other women in the industry to seek recognition for their own health issues. Legal representatives and the CFDT union noted that this ruling sets a major legal precedent, potentially paving the way for similar claims from other aviation employees who may have suffered health impacts from working conditions during the era when smoking was permitted on board.