Nationwide strike grounds flights

Passengers flying to and from France have faced delays and disruption today as a public sector strike meant dozens of flights have been cancelled and dozens more delayed.

The delays at airports across the country - including Toulose, Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Nice - were the result of a nationwide strike by government workers, angry about a four-year pay freeze.

Only a skeleton staff has been operating at France’s air traffic control centres during the walkout, which has been called by seven public sector unions.

A source at Orly told Le Parisien that 20 flights were cancelled this morning, while a spokesman for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that 12 flights were cancelled at Roissy

Eurocontrol warned of “extensive delays” across the whole of France, especially in the south and west of the country. Any planes flying over French airspace will also be affected.

The air traffic control body said the strike had this morning caused “big delays”, particularly in the Marseille area with delays expected to last all day.

The strike has frustrated travellers. One unnamed passenger, who was due to fly to Barcelona from Lyon today told Le Parisien: "We saw on the airport website that there would be a strike.

“When I called the airline, however, I was told my flight was on schedule and then that it was cancelled.

"There was a communication breakdown about the reason for the strike. Even the flight attendants didn't know."

Anyone flying into or out of France is advised to check the status of their scheduled flight with their airline.

Strikers were also expected to take to the streets of Paris this afternoon.