A national strike, which began yesterday in France, is set to last until early Wednesday morning and could affect air and train travel as workers protest pension reforms.

Travellers in France are bracing for delays and cancellations as the workers begin striking after negotiations over proposed pension reforms went south. Air travel between France and the UK is likely to be affected as well as numerous rail services, which could be delayed or even cancelled.

All long-haul Air France flights will continue to operate as normal, assured the airline, however just 90 per cent of short-haul services from the airline will run out of Charles de Gaulle, and only half of the carrier’s short-haul flights will be available at Paris-Orly. Eurostar has said that its services will operate as usual, but that passengers who already purchased tickets could refund them for a later date after the industrial action has settled down. The Paris metro will run at 50 per cent of its operating capacity and so will the high-speed SNCF trains.

The strike – which incorporates the majority of transport workers – will continue this evening and workers will be joined tomorrow in solidarity by school, civil service and post office staff. The strike is in direct response to the French government’s proposals to increase minimum retirement ages to 62 from 60. Demonstrations will be taking place in 137 cities across the country.

In similar news, London Tube workers are set to begin their strike – a series of 24 hour walkouts – later on today. The London Tube workers are disputing the government’s proposed job cuts as a means to make the London Underground more efficient.