By James Coomarasamy Charles de Gaulle Airport

Bryan Bancroft and his 10-year-old son Alex should have spent the morning enjoying the rides at EuroDisney.

Instead, they spent the last day of their holiday at Charles De Gaulle airport, trying to arrange a flight home and a hotel room in Paris for the next two nights.

They had been due to fly back to Manchester airport later in the day, but - last night - Bryan received a letter warning him about the strike.

To put it politely, I'm up a creek without a paddle

Bryan Bancroft Stranded passenger

As he turned away from the Air France desk, he was frustrated, but resigned to his fate.

"The airline is saying that it's not their responsibility, so we have to find a hotel ourselves," he said. "To put it politely, I'm up a creek without a paddle".

Normally, Bryan wouldn't be too concerned about spending the day at an airport. He is - he told me - a plane spotter.

The trouble is, today he doesn't have too many planes to spot.

Only about 200 of the 2,000 flights which normally take off from or land at Charles De Gaulle airport are flying - as the French air traffic controllers have once again shown their ability to cause widespread disruption.

They have been joined - though not for the whole day - by colleagues from Greece, Italy and Portugal.

Our Canadian colleagues are told they can't drive home at the end of their long shifts, but - five minutes earlier - they're controlling the movements of planes

Sophie Coppin Air traffic controllers' union

All of them are concerned that the European Commission's plans to create a single European air traffic control authority by 2005 could open the door to creeping privatisation.

They argue that - if this happens - it would threaten passenger safety.

"Look at our Canadian colleagues," said Sophie Coppin of the French air traffic controllers' union.

"In their privatised system, they're told they can't drive home at the end of their long shifts, but - five minutes earlier - they're controlling the movements of planes."

The European Commission, for its part, says that the so-called European Single Sky plans do not include any obligation for governments to privatise air traffic services.

Domestic agenda

Officials say that - at a time when Europe's skies are increasingly congested - the single air traffic system would reduce delays and benefit consumers.

In France, there is a national as well as an European aspect to this strike.

It may have been timed to coincide with this week's EU transport ministers' meeting, but it also comes just days after President Jacques Chirac's new government officially took office.

France's previous, communist transport minister, was broadly sympathetic to the strikers and while his right-wing successor has expressed concern about the industrial action, he also has reservations about the Single Sky plan.