France air traffic controllers to strike, almost half flights scrapped

(FILES) A file picture taken on July 20, 2010 at the Orly airport, outside Paris shows a control tower. Around 40 percent of all flights in France could be cancelled on April 8, 2015 due to a strike by air traffic controllers, French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) announced on April 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO.

PARIS (AFP): Air traffic controllers in France were poised to go on strike Wednesday, likely leading to cancellation of some 40% of flights in French airspace.

"Disruption is expected over the whole country," said the DGAC civil aviation authority, which requested companies to scrap 40% of flights as a preventative measure.