Europe Flights Into, Out of France Disrupted by Air Controller Strike

A 24-hour strike by French air traffic controllers plunged European flights to and from France into chaos Thursday.

A spokesman for the national airline Air France said that only 15% of its medium-haul flights would operate. Long-distance flights would not be affected, he said.

Foreign airlines using Paris airports said they would cancel nearly a quarter of their 443 flights and postpone 29 others until today.

The stoppage was the latest in a campaign of industrial action by the 2,000 controllers in a dispute over pensions, which has been aggravated by government anti-strike measures, airport and union officials said.

A spokeswoman for the Communist-led CGT union said that up to 80% of its members among the controllers did not report for work in the Paris area Thursday.

A skeleton staff is required by law to man airports and handle important flights, she said.

A spokesman said Air France was taking some passengers to airports in Belgium by bus.

The West German and Swiss airlines Lufthansa and Swissair said European flights over French airspace were not affected.

Union officials said early morning stoppages that have disrupted airports since April will continue next week despite two peace plans proposed by the government.

The domestic airline Air Inter, whose ground staff went on strike Thursday, has canceled all but 10% of its flights.

The stoppages by air traffic controllers were called to support their demand for bonuses, which account for 30% of their salary, to be included in pension calculations.