Passengers on flights across Europe can expect delays of five hours or longer today as air traffic controllers in France enter their second day of industrial action.
Things likely will get even worse today, as members of the European Transport Workers Federation in Belgium, Slovakia, and Hungary will join the strike.
About 1,800 European flights were cancelled yesterday when air traffic controllers in France started a planned three-day strike.
EasyJet said it will be forced to cancel approximately 128 flights today and Ryanair expects to cancel 244 flights.
However, easyJet and Ryanair said flights should return to normal tomorrow as a third day of industrial action planned by air traffic controllers in France for Thursday has been postponed.
Air traffic controllers are concerned that plans for a "Single European Sky," intended to cut travel times and costs, will adversely affect their working conditions and result in job cuts.
IATA director general Tony Tyler claimed their fears were unfounded, noting, "our blueprint report shows that the single European sky is a win-win proposition."
Reducing delays, cutting emissions, and raising safety levels will create 320,000 jobs across Europe, he said.
By Linsey McNeill, TravelMole UK
