PARIS, France: A strike by French air traffic controllers demanding improved working conditions caused significant disruptions during Europe's peak summer travel period, leading to the cancellation of approximately 40 percent of flights to and from Paris on July 4.

The chaos began a day earlier, and airports across France started to feel the impact by the next day. The national civil aviation authority directed airlines to cancel 40 percent of flights at the major Paris airports—Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Beauvais—as well as 50 percent of flights in Nice and 30 percent in cities like Marseille and Lyon.

In a statement, the authority cautioned that travelers could expect further disruptions and lengthy delays at all French airports. Departure boards at Paris airports were filled with notifications of delayed and canceled flights affecting routes across France, Europe, North Africa, and beyond.

Ryanair announced extensive disruptions, reporting the cancellation of over 400 flights that impacted around 70,000 passengers. The airline stated that the strike was affecting all its operations over French airspace, including flights to and from French airports. It urged the European Union to reconsider air traffic regulations.

One of the leading unions in the strike, UNSA-ICNA, expressed in a statement that there are insufficient staff to manage the current surge in air travel, emphasizing that inflation is diminishing workers' salaries. The unions also protested against new regulatory measures aimed at more stringent monitoring of their work, following a near-miss incident at Bordeaux airport.

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot criticized the unions' actions, calling their demands—especially the timing of the strike coinciding with the closure of French schools and the onset of family vacations—"unacceptable."

Travelers were among those affected. Mariano Mignola, from Naples, Italy, faced a canceled flight while traveling with his wife and children. "When we checked in last night, we sensed something was off. We went online and discovered the bad news," he shared. "We hoped the airline would help us find accommodation, but that didn't happen."

Mignola lamented, "We have to manage everything ourselves, but it's impossible with holiday travel."

Patrick Haus, from Paris, had intended to attend a meeting in Nice, but his flight was also canceled. He expressed his support for the strikers: "In a way, I stand in solidarity with them. It's important to understand that people only strike when necessary."