The French stage a general strike over pensions which is affecting British travellers with flights and ferries cancelled

Thousands of British travellers have been affected as the French have started a general strike on Tuesday because the President Emmanuel Macron is planning to raise the pension age from 62 to 64.

French air traffic controllers walked out which has seen many flights cancelled, trains and ferries have been cancelled also amid industrial action.

British Airways and easyJet cancelled at least 13 and 18 flights respectively affecting London airports and Air France cut flights between Heathrow and Paris.

Eurostar cancelled 16 out of 26 services between London St Pancras and Paris and another six trains were cancelled between London and Brussels.

Eurostar warned that the French general strike “could extend beyond” Tuesday, adding it will “involve disruption across multiple sectors, including national rail services and it will have an impact on the availability of some of our crew.”

An easyJet spokeswoman said, “Impacted customers are being notified in advance and offered the option to change their flight for free or receive a refund.

“While this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience they may experience as a result of the strike action.”

P&O Ferries advised that “all non-essential travel is rescheduled to an alternative date.”