European flights faced widespread disruptions on Friday as a strike by French air traffic controllers forced airlines to cancel half of the flights scheduled to arrive at or depart from Paris airports and other airports that were supposed to fly over France.

Strikes and staff shortages in recent months have forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights, dashing hopes of a summer recovery after widespread COVID-19 lockdowns, with disruptions continuing into the fall.

One Canadian traveler, Cedric Gautra, told Reuters, "It's a bit exhausting, we will have to find a solution very quickly because we are expected to be in another hotel elsewhere."

The French air traffic control union SNCTA said in a statement that its members' withdrawal was due to the effects of inflation and their demand for more staff.