Ryanair was among airlines that announced widespread disruptions, saying in a statement it canceled more than 400 flights affecting 70,000 passengers. The company said the strike affects all its flights over French airspace, as well as traffic in and out of French airports, and urged the European Union to reform air traffic rules.

A strike by French air traffic controllers entered its second day on Friday, leaving many passengers stranded at the start of Europe's peak travel season.Civil aviation agency DGAC told airlines to cancel 40% of flights at the three main Paris airports on Friday because of the strike,

An air traffic controllers' strike in France is affecting more than 500,000 travellers at the start of the summer holidays, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said on Friday. Of the 1,000 air traffic controllers scheduled to be on duty,