Thousands of passengers in travel hell with week-long delays after French call off strike #TheElitePartyInJuly #Entertain9jar via @myentertain9jar

A STRIKE by French air traffic controllers was called off last night but left thousands of passengers still facing travel chaos.

 

Thousands of passengers faced delays and disruption at UK airports[Geoff Robinson]

Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways were among the airlines forced to cancel flights and passengers were warned to expect delays as flight schedules were restored.

The industrial action had been due to extend over the weekend but ended at midnight after talks with the French government .

Strikers were protesting against planned cuts they said would harm air traffic control services in France but called a halt after ministers reportedly recognised the “importance of investment in the sector”.

Ryanair had cancelled more than 260 of its 1,600 flights across Europe yesterday as a result of the strike.

Passengers waiting at Stanstead Airport [Geoff Robinson]

A spokesman for the airline said last night: “We have been advised that the French strike has been cancelled. All Ryanair scheduled flights on Thursday will operate as normal.”

Its flights to Malaga, Carcassone, Biarritz, Girona, Lisbon, La Rochelle and Paris were all affected by the industrial action.

Ryanair said customers affected by cancellations would now be offered later flights or full refunds.

Belgian air traffic controllers also went on strike for two hours last night delaying US Secretary of State John Kerry at Brussels airport where his plane was waiting to take him to Paris for talks on Iraq.

His spokeswoman said: “Due to a potential delay in flights, Secretary Kerry will take the train from Brussels to Paris.”