Disgruntled French air traffic controllers and 300,000 French workers effectively ruined the holidays for thousands of people during the half term week.
The air traffic workers went on a two-day strike, starting on April 8, after a dispute over the retirement age for air traffic controllers being raised from 57 years to 59 years, Business Insider reported.
The strikes have already caused major chaos across Europe, with many people remaining stranded overseas, after three of the worst affected airlines had to cancel flights.
Budget airline easyJet cancelled 579 flights in total over the last two days. Low-cost airline Ryanair cancelled just over 500 flights over the last two days. Air France said 75% of its flights from Orly airport in Paris are cancelled. However, it said it is operating 50% of medium-haul flights to and from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. Around 40% of flights to and from cities in the rest of France are also operational. It said long-haul Air France flights were affected on Thursday.
AFP reported that by including all airlines into the cancelled flight tally, around 2,000 flights have been cancelled in total.
Major tourist hot spots, like the Eiffel Tower, were closed as thousands of workers marched across the capital. Police say 32,000 people marched in Paris on Thursday while organizers put the figure at 120,000.
