PARIS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Air traffic was severely disrupted across France on Thursday, despite planned strikes being called off at the last minute, local media reported.
More than 2,000 flights in Europe have been canceled, while 1,000 flights will probably have to divert to avoid French airspace, according to the association Airlines for Europe.
Paris-Orly, France's second-largest airport, has been worst-affected. Three out of four flights at the airport have been canceled, while 55 percent were canceled at France's largest airport, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle. Meanwhile, 65 percent were canceled at Marseille Provence, and 45 percent at all other airports in mainland France.
The National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (SNCTA) announced on Wednesday that it had lifted its strike notice period, following an agreement reached with the French Civil Aviation Authority after a long night of negotiations.
The SNCTA, which won 60 percent of air traffic controllers' votes in the last elections, had been demanding a 25 percent pay rise spread over five years.
"Despite the lifting of this strike notice period, the late conclusion of negotiations with the SNCTA and the need to finalize discussions with the other union organizations will make it impossible to avoid disruptions on Thursday," the French Civil Aviation Authority explained. ■
