A strike staged by air traffic controllers lead to cancellations of more than 2,000 flights in France Wednesday and affected travel all around Europe. The strike gained momentum as more workers joined the protest on its second day. The workers were protesting an EU plan to simplify airspace around the continent. Union opposition has labeled the plan as a cost-cutting measure that would threaten job and passenger safety. The strike is expected to end Thursday.
See "Air traffic strike snarls France, gets tepid response elsewhere in protest of EU measure", The Washington Post, June 12, 2013