Gatwick's 'hostages' bed down for the long wait

"I feel as if we are being held hostage," said an irate Gerard Riviere in his native French.

Mr Riviere and his wife had been stuck at Gatwick airport since flying in from Philadelphia at 6am yesterday. They were told that they were unlikely to get to Marseilles until this afternoon – 32 hours later. The couple's plight was mirrored in airports across Britain and continental Europe yesterday when air traffic controllers downed tools in a show of solidarity. A spokesman for Gatwick said: "We are just trying to keep up with a constantly changing scenario."

The action, co-ordinated by the French-based union ATCEUL – to which British controllers are not affiliated – was called to object to the European Commission's "single sky" plan. Air traffic controllers fear the proposal will lead to mass privatisation.

Mr Riviere chose to vent his anger on British Airways, despite knowing that "those responsible for this mess" were his own countrymen.

Others were accepting the situation with more aplomb. "Bored? I was bored four hours ago. Sleep seems to be our only option," said Richard Tydenan, a 21-year-old estate agent. His girlfriend was con-centrating on her hundredth game of patience. "We should be arriving about now," said Jessica Bieniek, 20, adding: "I think it's very selfish of the strikers but it's no one here's fault. We will just have to grin and bear it."

The couple from Swindon had arrived at Gatwick at 3.45am for their flight to Kos, only to be told they were not setting off for another 17 hours.

By lunchtime yesterday almost 50 flights from Gatwick had been cancelled, with the French strike due to continue into the night. Several carriers stopped services to the country altogether, while many charter airlines rescheduled for Friday onwards. The airport operators' association said: "They are coping as best they can by providing entertainment, accommodation where necessary."

Across the airport there was the familiar sight of weary travellers asleep on benches.

And the worst of it could be yet to come. British air controllers have rejected a 6 per cent pay offer and could strike for the first time in 21 years. Talks will take place today.

But Denise Challotte, 69, still had a smile. Instead of flying straight from Montreal to Paris her group was being diverted via London and then Luxembourg. "It's not a crisis," she said with a roar of laughter. "When it's time to go it will be time to go."