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French riot police fired pepper spray at angry Air France employees who tried to storm a terminal at Paris' main airport Thursday amid a strike over pay that has grounded flights. Hundreds of noisy Air France staff demonstrated at the French airlines' headquarters at Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris' largest, brandishing flares, French tricolor flags and posters. Around 50 staff protesters got past police to enter one of airport's terminals, where they marched and set off horns before leaving. The protesters want the day-long strike to pressure management to increase employee salaries by 6%. "We've been making an effort since 2011 and gotten a 30 percent rise in productivity and no increase in salary," said National Air France Group union chief Patrick Henry-Haye. "Last year, our top managers raised their salaries by 67%. Us: zero percent," he said. Air France said that half of its long-haul flights departing from Paris will not operate Thursday. A quarter of medium-haul flights are cancelled as well as 15% of its short-haul flights. Air France said it would be operating 75% of its total flights and would be "making every effort to minimize the inconvenience." But it acknowledged that almost one third of its staff would be participating in the day's action. Thousands of passengers saw their travels plans disrupted, with many left waiting at Charles de Gaulle airport.<br/>

Thousands of Air France passengers all over the world faced disruptions to their itineraries Thursday, following a labour strike involving the carrier’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff. According to a representative from Air France’s office in Paris, 28% of its employees went on strike on today, which forced the airline to cancel 25% of its flights scheduled for the day. Long-haul flights are the most affected: the airline plans to operate only 50% of those scheduled to depart from Paris. However, Air France will still operate 75% of its medium-haul flights to and from Charles de Gaulle Airport and 85% of its short-haul flights. “I know of many Air France passengers who have had to rearrange their itineraries by leaving a day earlier or later or have had to reschedule their trips all together,” said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst. To add confusion to an already aggravating situation, Michael Holtz, the owner of SmartFlyer, said that Air France has several code share partners such as Delta, Korean Air and Aeromexico. This could potentially mean that passengers who have purchased their tickets through those airlines may be scheduled to fly on a plane operated by Air France. The carrier is recommending that its fliers with reservations today postpone their trips or change their tickets at no extra cost. Passengers can reschedule their flights up to Feb. 27 free of charge. They also have the option to receive a voucher for the value of their ticket on Air France or KLM, which will be valid for one year. They can also cancel their flights and receive a full refund. <br/>

Delta is facing criticism after one of its planes was stuck on the tarmac for almost 12 hours during an ice storm in Kansas City, leaving passengers stranded as they attempted to fly to Los Angeles. The flight was just one of many across multiple airlines which were cancelled or had its route significantly altered due to the wintry weather. Ann Ngo, who planned on returning home to California when she boarded the Delta flight, spent the next 12 hours snacking on food and waiting for the plane to take off, she told The Kansas City Star, which first reported on the delay. But the plane never left the ground. Just as passengers thought they were finally about to be airborne, they said a message came over the loudspeaker announcing that the flight had "timed out." Customers vented their frustration, with many taking to social media to skewer Delta for what they said was poor communication with passengers. “The gross incompetence associated with flight #2195 defies all logic,” said passenger Matt Montgomery. <br/>