Air France expects strike disruptions

Air France said a strike by flight attendants would force the cancellation of about 20 percent of its flights from Saturday through Wednesday. The airline also said unexpected cancellations could occur, Radio France Internationale reported Friday. With the strike coming during a two-week school break, Transportation Minister Thierry Mariani said the timing of the work action was "shocking." The strike comes as the airline's top executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon is stepping aside, leaving his responsibilities to Jean-Cyril Spinetta, who was managing director in 2007 during a strike that included numerous complaints over the airline's response. At the time, the airline was criticized for not responding aggressively enough to cover flight cancellations.