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Air France: Pilots' strike to hit Euro 2016 Air France: Pilots' strike hits Euro 2016
(about 7 hours later)
Pilots at the French national airline have started a four-day strike that could disrupt plans for thousands of football fans on the second day of the Euro 2016 competition. The French national airline has asked passengers to check their flight status before travelling, as a pilots' strike coinciding with Euro 2016 caused it to cancel some flights.
Air France has cancelled up to 30% of its flights on Saturday. About a quarter of Air France pilots were on strike but the company said more than 80% of flights went ahead.
But it said it would prioritise journeys to cities that were hosting tournament matches. Some Paris-Marseille flights were cancelled on Saturday, affecting fans travelling to the England-Russia game.
The pilots' union is taking action because of planned pay cuts and changes to working conditions. The strike will continue for three more days.
The pilots' union Spaf (Syndicat des Pilotes d'Air France) is taking action because of planned pay cuts and changes to working conditions.
It is one of many unions taking action; others are striking because they want the government to scrap new labour laws that will make it easier to hire and fire people.It is one of many unions taking action; others are striking because they want the government to scrap new labour laws that will make it easier to hire and fire people.
Rubbish will not be collected in Paris until Wednesday, train services have only recently resumed after a nine-day strike, and at the end of last month many petrol stations ran dry when protesters blockaded oil refineries.Rubbish will not be collected in Paris until Wednesday, train services have only recently resumed after a nine-day strike, and at the end of last month many petrol stations ran dry when protesters blockaded oil refineries.
President Francois Hollande has warned unions against disrupting the tournament.
What are French workers complaining about?What are French workers complaining about?
Hollande warns unions against disrupting Euro 2016Hollande warns unions against disrupting Euro 2016
He said: "I appeal to everyone's sense of responsibility because if the state must do its duty - and it will, it will take all the measures that are necessary. In a statement, Air France said 7% of long haul flights, 9% of domestic flights and 27% of medium haul flights were cancelled on Saturday.
"At the same time, it is also necessary that those who are taking part in actions, or who are organising them should also shoulder their responsibility... so that this great event can be a shared popular festival." The company had said it would prioritise flights to cities that were hosting Euro 2016 tournament matches, but four out of seven Paris-Marseille flights were cancelled on Saturday.
The pilots' union Spaf (Syndicat des Pilotes d'Air France) says its strike will run from Saturday until Tuesday. The airline said a higher proportion of Sunday's flights would be affected, and that information about the following days would be published soon.
But the company's chief executive, Frederic Gagey, promised to try and minimise disruption to host cities. It offered to allow passengers to postpone their travel by up to a week at no extra cost.
He said: "Of course we will look after the Euro tournament." The company's chief executive, Frederic Gagey, has said that the dispute will cost the airline €5m (£3.9m) a day.
He added that the dispute would cost the airline €5m (£3.9m) a day.
In all, seven million people are expected to visit the 10 French cities where matches are taking place.In all, seven million people are expected to visit the 10 French cities where matches are taking place.
President Francois Hollande has warned unions against disrupting the tournament.