Air traffic hit in France as air traffic controllers begin strike

Paris, April 8: Thousands of air travellers left stranded after French air traffic controllers began their two-day strike on Wednesday, media reported.

The strike was called by the air traffic union SNCTA, which is France's largest, wants talks over the specific working conditions of their members and retirement age to 59 from 57, France24.com reported.

The strike was originally called from March 25 to 27 but scrapped it after the Germanwings crash in the French Alps that killed 150 people on board.

Further industrial action has been planned from April 16 to 18 and from April 29 to May 2, key holiday periods, media reported.

Many flights were grounded on Wednesday while many more were disrupted, with delays and cancellations not only affecting journeys to France but also to other parts of Europe accessible through French airspace.

Budget airline easyJet (EZJ.L) said it was cancelling 118 flights to and from France on April 8 and apologized to passengers for a strike "outside of our control".

Low-cost carrier Ryanair (RYA.L) posted dozens of flight cancellations on its website, not just in France but across Europe, blaming the French strike.

OneIndia News