Air France strike chaos continues

The strike comes as France begins a half-term school holiday

Air travellers in France can expect further chaos as a strike by Air France cabin crews is set to continue until late on Monday.

Air France officials said 60% of its flights would take off on Sunday after the strike forced the cancellation of one-third of Saturday's flights.

The strike, over pay and conditions, has mostly hit long-haul flights out of the main Paris airports.

The airline apologised to customers and blamed the unions for the disruptions.

In a statement, Air France said the strike was unexpected and that union officials were responsible for the breakdown in negotiations over a new contract.

Sarkozy reforms

Long queues of passengers built up at the main airports on Saturday as a half-term school holiday began.

Air France has begun legal action against three unions to seek compensation for losses over the strike.

Rail strikes earlier this months halted trains across the country for several days.

That action was over plans by President Nicolas Sarkozy to end retirement privileges which let some public sector workers retire at 50 on full pensions.

Mr Sarkozy has promised ambitious reforms, including to pension arrangements for some transport and energy workers and cuts in the numbers of civil servants.