Strikes by unions in France and Germany were set to disrupt air cargo operations yesterday, with Air France and Lufthansa cancelling hundreds of flights. 

In Germany, the Verdi trade union called for a strike over pay at Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne and Bremen airports. 

In France, pilot, cabin and ground crew planned three two-day stoppages over the next two weeks with the first taking place yesterday. 

Lufthansa said that it would have to cancel 800 out of the 1,600 scheduled flights, including 58 long-haul flights. Flight operations were scheduled to resume normal services today.