More than a third of flights to and from France are expected to be cancelled today as members of the SNCTA union walk out on strike in a dispute over working conditions.

The largest union in France has called for a strike over proposals to raise the retirement age for air traffic controllers by two years to 59.

In response, the DGAC civil aviation authority has asked airlines to cut their schedules for flights to and from France on Wednesday by 40 per cent.

Short-haul flights around Europe are expected to be hardest hit.

“Disruption is expected over the whole country,” the DGAC said in a statement.

Travellers have been advised to contact their airline.

Air France earlier said it expects to operate almost all its long-haul flights and 60 per cent of its medium-haul flights to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

Further action is planned between April 16th-18th and April 29th-May 2nd.