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French air traffic controllers strike for second day disrupts flights

The strike of French air traffic controllers is now in its second day, and many passengers are left stranded as Europe's busy travel season begins.

The civil aviation agency DGAC has told airlines that 40% of flights will be cancelled at three of Paris' main airports this Friday due to the strike. Air traffic controllers claim the strike is caused by a lack of staff and outdated equipment.

DGAC also said that up to half of the flights at France's airports in other regions, mainly the south, had been affected.

Mariano Mignola said, "We are hostages to Paris", an Italian tourist stuck in Orly Airport with his two children.

"Today, we had to return home. The first flight available is on July 8." He said, "We have no apartment, hotel, car, train or anything else. We can't even find a place to stay." "We're in a panic. The children are afraid and we don’t know what to say."

The strike was deemed unacceptable by the French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, as well as Ryanair's boss Michael O'Leary who called it "another recreation strike of French air traffic controllers's unions".

DGAC also warned that delays and disruptions could affect passengers in addition to cancellations.

Airlines for Europe (A4E), a lobby group, announced late Thursday that 1,500 flight cancellations had occurred during the two-day walkout, affecting 300,00 passengers and causing delays. Reporting by Makini Brice, Conor Humphries Inti Landauro and Lucien Libert. Makini Brice, Ingrid Melander and Makini's team wrote the article. David Goodman, Mark Potter and Mark Potter edited the book.

(source: Reuters)