Ryanair was among airlines that announced widespread disruptions, saying in a statement it canceled more than 400 flights affecting 70,000 passengers. The company said the strike affects all its flights over French airspace, as well as traffic in and out of French airports, and urged the European Union to reform air traffic rules.

View of the air traffic control tower of the Marseille-Provence airport on the eve of a strike call by two air traffic controllers' unions to defend their working conditions, in Marignane, near Marseille,

France will put on a united front when they play England in their Women's Euro group opener in Zurich on Saturday, the team said on Friday, despite former captain Wendie Renard and record goal-scorer Eugenie Le Sommer being left out of the tournament squad.