Ryanair cancelled 420 flights, easyJet cut 76, British Airways cancelled 22, while Air France ran only 45% of its short-haul flights.

Neal McMahon, Operations Director, Ryanair, said that it was "inexplicable" that thousands of European citizens and visitors "will have their travel plans unfairly disrupted".

"It is inexcusable that passengers who are not even flying to or from France are disrupted", he said.

He said French laws protect French domestic flights, but not ones flying over the country.  "It is time that the European Union step in and protect overflights so that European passengers are not repeatedly held to ransom by a tiny French air traffic control union", he said.

The union involved, SNCTA, called for a further three days of action from 28-30 September.

Heathrow operations will be reduced today (19 September) due to the Queen’s funeral.  See www.btnews.co.uk/article/19625

www.sncta.fr