The chief pilots union has given notice that the strike will last at least two weeks and with the World Cup nine days away Air France, the tournament's official airline, is already being forced to cancel up to 90% of its flights.

The BBC's Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield: "Maximum pressure on managers"

Air France has promised to ensure that all teams taking part in the World Cup arrive on time for their matches but some fans are already looking at alternative travel plans.

The dispute, which began at midnight on Sunday, threatens to cast a shadow over France while the eyes of the world are on the country.

Row over pay-cuts

Air France management is in no doubt that the strike by 3,200 pilots has been timed to coincide with the tournament in order to exert maximum pressure. Some French politicians have accused the pilots of blackmail.

The pilots are refusing to accept pay cuts proposed by the management.

They object plans to cut the overall cost of pilot salaries by about $83m a year through the introduction of a differential pay scale for newly recruited pilots and proposals that pilots should take a pay cut in return for shares in the airline when it is privatised.

The management claims that French pilots are paid 40% more than their German counterparts, and 19% more than British Airways pilots.

It says that with Air France just starting to return to profitability, it needs the savings to buy new aircraft.

Negotiations between unions and Air France management and the government broke down last week. There are no immediate plans to resume them.

The French Transport Minister, Jean-Claude Gayssot, has said both sides in the dispute should hold talks straight away.

The action comes as French train drivers threaten strike action on June 16, 17 and 18 - right in the middle of the opening round of matches.