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Flight and rail chaos as strikes sweep France

Travellers in France face chaos today (Tuesday) as a general strike severely disrupts flights and rail services to and from the country.

Thirty per cent of services from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and half from Orly have been cancelled with disruption likely to last for 24 hours.

Ryanair has cancelled around 200 flights to France and British Airways has warned passengers to be prepared for massive delays and disruption.

Problems started at Charles de Gaulle yesterday after refueling staff went on strike. Short haul aircraft have been told to carry enough fuel for return journeys as France battles a walkout which has shut all 12 oil refineries in the country.

At least two Air France long haul flights from Paris were forced to take off with insufficient fuel and top up in nearby countries, according to local reports.

Industrial action continues to disrupt rail travel in France. Only half the high-speed TGV trains were running yesterday, according to rail operator SNCF.

The country has been hit by co-ordinated strikes over the past two months in protest at proposed pension reforms that would increase the minimum retirement from 60 to 62.

Industrial action in Belgium yesterday saw Eurostar services to Brussels cancelled.

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