BORDEAUX — A five-day strike by French air traffic controllers is expected to lead to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights, starting today.

Brest and Bordeaux control centres will be affected from 5 a.m. today until 7 p.m. on Friday, report TravelMole. Lobby group Airlines for Europe (A4E) estimates more than 1,000 flights will be called off this week after carriers were asked to reduce their flights schedules in France by 25%.

According to The Sun, EasyJet, Ryanair and British Airways have all cancelled flights in light of the five days of industrial action launched by control tower workers. EasyJet cancelled a total of 38 flights today, while Ryanair cancelled 45 flights that were due to fly to, from or over France.

British Airways has also cancelled several flights and announced it will be using larger aircraft to accommodate travellers.

Air France cancelled 17% of its domestic flights from Paris today, but will continue to operate all long-haul flights and nearly all its shorts- and medium-haul flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle.