Strike in France expected to ground many overseas flights

PARIS. February 7. KAZINFORM Air France expects to cancel nearly half its long haul flights Tuesday as a strike by aviation workers enters its second day, CNN reported.

The workers, including pilots and flight attendants, have called for a four-day strike to protest a draft law that they say will curtail their right to strike.

The proposed law says that workers will have to provide a 48-hour notice before they strike.

"Since the arrival of the proposed law, the intentions of government and businesses are clear: removing all means of dissent from air travel personnel," the main pilot union, SNPL, said.

"Let there be no mistake: in the light of the government and businesses' will to muzzle airline pilots, we must speak with one voice," the union added.

In addition to the long haul flight cancellations -- that is, flights involving long distances, such as international ones -- Air France said more than a quarter of its remaining scheduled flights are not expected to get off the ground Tuesday.

It advised passengers to postpone trips until after Friday.

The airline plans to issue on Tuesday its flight forecast for Wednesday.