Europe strikes disrupt UK flights

Rail services and flights are due to be disrupted

Travellers to France and Italy face severe disruption on Tuesday as strikes halt planes, boats and trains.

The public sector strike in France, which began on Monday night, forced British Airways to ground at least 90 out of its 120 flights to France until 2200 BST Tuesday.

The strike is part of a continuing protest by French workers over proposed pension reforms.

Overall about 80% of flights to and from France will be cancelled by the action of air traffic controllers.

BA flights to and from France will be affected at Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh airports.

"British Airways apologises to all customers for any inconvenience caused by the industrial action which is beyond its control," the company said.

BMI, formerly British Midland Airways, said it was operating only six out of its regular 24 flights to and from France.

Eurostar on track

Eurostar services between London, Paris and Brussels will operate "almost normally" during the strike, the company said.

But while the 26 daily Eurostar trains will be operating, rail services within France were due to be disrupted.

Eurostar advised travellers with domestic rail tickets beyond Paris and Lille not to travel.

Meanwhile, cross-Channel ferry services have also been affected by the industrial action.

P&O Ferries said it had to halt its Dover-to-Calais sailings after dockers at the French port stopped work at around 7am local time on Tuesday to attend a union meeting.

The company also had to cancel one of its Portsmouth-to-Cherbourg sailings.

The Foreign Office warned the strike by several trade unions was "likely to cause severe disruption throughout the transport sector".

It advised people to check with travel agents before travelling.

Alitalia

Cabin crews for the Italian carrier Alitalia are planning a four-hour strike in protest at plans to reduce cabin crew staffing, which is expected to cause the cancellation of at least 180 flights in Italy.

The move followed delays at the weekend when Alitalia cancelled dozens of flights after flight attendants called in sick for a second consecutive day over concerns about job fears.

About 50 flights from Rome and Milan, including flights to London, were cancelled on Sunday.