French airports faced more weekend disruption after Air France pilots rejected a proposal today to break off a four-day strike.

The airline cut up to a third of long-haul flights and half its other services, causing severe airport disruption on the second day of a strike against proposed retirement age reforms.

There had been hopes of a breakthrough after the government offered to guarantee the right to retire at 60 in talks with unions, but pilots voted against ending the strike, unions said.

The carrier had said it would be able to operate 65-70 percent of long-haul flights and around half of its planned short and medium-haul flights at the weekend.

The strike was called over proposals to allow pilots to retire at 65 rather than the current final retirement age of 60, a measure being discussed in parliament as part of wider social security reforms.

The company and the government say the planned change would be voluntary and pilots would not be forced to work until 65, but unions believe it is the thin end of a wedge that will force staff to work longer or accept lower pensions.

The strike is due to last until midnight local time on Monday and will likely cost the airline 100 million euros, chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta said on Thursday.