Airlines cancelled about 40% of flights across France Wednesday as French air traffic controllers began a two-day strike.
France's largest union, the powerful SNCTA, called the strike in a quarrel over working and retirement conditions. The DGAC civil aviation authority said in a statement that "disruption is expected over the whole country."
France's main airline, Air France, said long-haul flights would not be affected, and guaranteed some 60% of medium-haul flights from and to Paris' main airport, Charles de Gaulle.
Air France said it would ground two out of three flights at Paris' second-largest airport, Orly.
Air traffic strike 8th-9th of April : 40% of flights cancelled this Wednesday, please contact your airline #en #flights— Aéroports de Paris (@AeroportsParis) April 7, 2015
Grr, guess whose plane has been cancelled: Controllers' strike to hit some Air France flights Wednesday http://t.co/1L1yHW4IUm via @Reuters— Ronnie Lassiaille (@RonnieLass) April 7, 2015
Was about to leave for France, but it's gone on strike. Get back to work, please, France. Love James.— James May (@MrJamesMay) April 8, 2015
Airports across France led FlightAware's list of cancellations early Wednesday afternoon.
"We sincerely apologise to all customers affected by this unwarranted strike action and we call on the EU and French authorities to take measures to prevent any further disruption," budget carrier Ryanair said in a statement. "It's grossly unfair that thousands of European travellers will once again have their travel plans disrupted by the selfish actions of a tiny number of French [air traffic control] workers."
France's civil aviation agency said part of the dispute involves conditions for raising the retirement age for controllers from 67 to 69 years. It advised passengers to contact their airline for more information.
About 40-50% less traffic over France because of the French ATC strike, per @flightradar24. Yesterday v. today: pic.twitter.com/rc1bvLbrbN— reported.ly (@reportedly) April 8, 2015
"Although this is outside of our control, easyJet would like to apologise to its customers for any inconvenience caused," easyJet said in a statement.
Air France pilots have also gone on strike in recent months, in protest of the airline company's plans to shift some operations to a low-cost subsidiary.
European airlines have faced increased competition from low-cost rivals, as well as Gulf carriers.
Further strikes are planned by SNCTA April 16-18 and April 29-May 2, coinciding with spring school holidays in France.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press