An air traffic controllers' strike in France is affecting more than 500,000 travellers at the start of the summer holidays, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said on Friday. Of the 1,000 air traffic controllers scheduled to be on duty,

French air traffic controllers staged the second day of a two-day strike on Friday, prompting the cancellation of hundreds of flights not just to-and-from France but also overflying the country as summer holidays kick off.

More than 1,500 flights have been cancelled on July 3-4, affecting nearly 300,000 passengers, due to a strike by French air traffic controllers, European industry lobby Airlines for Europe said in a statement.