Flights in France to be hit by strikes

 French air traffic will be disrupted on Tuesday because of a strike by major air-traffic control unions, protesting government reforms aimed at reducing spending and deficits, airport authority ADP (Aeroport de Paris) confirmed on Monday.The strike is likely to affect about 30 percent of traffic in and out of the French capital, with other cities disrupted to a lesser extent.Airlines have been asked to reduce the number of their flights to prevent log-jams and a backup of traffic.ADP said that delays, some severe, could also be expected and was urging passengers to check with airlines before travelling to airports.The Authority said the biggest effort would be made to maintain long-distance flights.French air traffic controllers are joining a broader national protest on Tuesday but they have also recently struck for several days to protest a plan to harmonize all European Union control centers and probably axe a number of jobs through consolidation and cost-cutting.