France's General Directorate for Civil Aviation (DGAC) predicted that only one flight in two would be run during the week from Paris-Orly airport and that there would be major delays at the other Paris international airport, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle.

Domestic flights were expected to be worst hit but early morning Air France departures from Orly to Prague and Ouarzazate in Morocco were among the first victims.

Easyjet, the low cost carrier, cancelled flights from the same airport to Geneva, Athens and Rome.

The Aeroports de Paris airport authority said there were no cancellations but many delays at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle.

The strike has been called by the communist-led General Labour Confederation (CGT) union over plans to centralise air traffic control for the Paris region at a single base. -- AFP