Some 40 percent of flights cancelled in France amid strike

French air traffic controllers went on strike Wednesday, prompting the cancellation of 40 percent of flights in the country.

The powerful Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien (SNCTA) union called the two-day strike in a dispute over working conditions and retirement, saying in a statement that “disruption is expected over the whole country.”

The SNCTA controllers' union said in a blog post that it was protesting “imprecise” offers from state employers regarding work conditions and retirement plans.

France's civil aviation agency has called for the cancellation of 40 percent of flights Thursday. The agency said on its website that it would confirm the total impact of the strike on Thursday flights.

It said part of the dispute involves conditions for raising the retirement age for controllers from 67 to 69 years.

Air France said long-haul flights would not be affected, and guaranteed some 60 percent of medium-haul flights from and to Paris' main airport, Charles de Gaulle.

Air France said it would ground two out of three flights at Paris’ second-largest airport, Orly.

Further strikes are planned for April 16-18 and April 29-May 2, coinciding with spring school holidays in France.

Al Jazeera and wire services