Medium and short-haul flights from Paris are expected to be disrupted again today as a strike by air traffic controllers enters its second day.
The DGAC civil aviation authority said it had asked operators to cancel 25 per cent of flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and half the flights from Paris-Orly airport.
National carrier Air France said it expected to operate 100 per cent of its long-haul services but only 75 per cent of domestic and European flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and 50 per cent from Paris-Orly airport.
Unions called a five-day strike starting yesterday to protest against an accord on modernising air traffic control, signed by Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Unions fear the reforms will lead to layoffs.
Flights are expected to be disrupted until Saturday morning.
Families with children waiting at the Paris airports for information about flight cancellations expressed anger, saying on television that they were being held hostage by the labour dispute.
French unions are also protesting against budget cuts expected in 2010 and 2011 as part of a broader government effort to reduce spending.
Reuters