France grinds to halt amid plane and train strikes

Some 30 per cent of Air France flights were cancelled today as strikes over pay rises appear to be intensifying. Picture / AP

Some 30 per cent of Air France flights were cancelled today as strikes over pay rises appear to be intensifying.

And that's just part of France's travel troubles this month. Most French trains will screech to a halt as a strike over President Emmanuel Macron's economic reforms resumes Saturday night — a strike that is set to last through to Tuesday

Screens at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport showed red "cancelled" notes next to multiple flights, as families around France and Europe headed off on spring vacations.

The one-day Air France walkout is affecting international and domestic travel, notably a quarter of flights at Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. Air France is urging passengers to check the status of their flights before coming to the airport and offering to change tickets for free.

It's the fifth Air France strike since February, and the number of cancelled flights is rising. Unions this week announced more strikes this month to coincide with national rail walkouts.

Air France unions want 6 per cent pay raises after years of salary freezes. Air France is offering 1 per cent raises, saying anything higher will hurt its turnaround efforts.

The strikes have been costing Air France some 20 million euros ($34 million) a day and have hurt its share price.

Meanwhile, the SNCF national railway announced that 80 per cent of high speed trains and two-thirds of regional trains will be canceled starting today as unions stage another two-day walkout.

Railway employees hold flares during a demonstration in Lyon, central France. Picture / AP

About a quarter of Eurostar trains to London will be cancelled, and no trains were expected to run at all to Switzerland, Spain or Italy.

It's part of three months of rolling train strikes seen as the biggest challenge to Macron since he took office last year. Rail unions are angry at plans by Macron's government to abolish a generous benefits system that gives train workers jobs for life.

Both the government and unions are holding firm despite continuing negotiations. France prides itself on its railways, seen as a pillar of public service.

Macron argues that the special status for train workers is no longer tenable in a globalised and increasingly automated economy. It's part of his broader plans to overhaul the French economy to make it more competitive.

- AP