Air France canceled up to 40 percent of its long-distance flights Wednesday because of a strike by pilots and other personnel over their right to hold unannounced walkouts. The airline is recommending that passengers postpone any flights planned through Thursday night, when the strike is expected to end. Flights operated with partner airlines in the Skyteam alliance are also affected by the cancellations, an official with the Paris airport authority said. As the strike entered its third day Wednesday, Air France said it expected to run 60 percent of long-haul flights and 70 percent of medium and short-range flights worldwide. The airline normally operates about 1,800 flights a day. Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports saw six flights cancelled at the last minute Wednesday morning in addition to those announced to passengers the night before, the official with the Paris airport authority said. She was not authorized to be publicly named because of the agency's policies.
