More than 200 flights were cancelled and many others delayed this evening due to a four-hour air traffic controllers' strike in Italy, where unions are fighting for better contracts.
Italy's flag carrier Alitalia cancelled 196 flights, most of the them international. At Rome's Fiumicino international airport, Air France cancelled three flights and Lufthansa cancelled six flights.
"It's shameful," said one angry passenger, Vincenzo Frangiamore. "In one month, this is the fourth strike in the transport sector."
Italy's air traffic controllers' authorities are wrestling over the interpretation of contracts signed last year, including issues like working hours and benefits.
Air traffic controllers are threatening more strikes on June 6th and June 8th. Alitalia pilots are planning to strike on June 26 th.