Low-cost carrier easyJet said UK airlines were having to pay the cost of the French "not bothering to do a decent day's work".
The comments came after Philip Meeson, chief executive of UK no-frills carrier Jet2.com, called the strikers "lazy frogs".
The strike in France, over a controversial new youth employment law, led to easyJet having to cancel nearly 50 flights, while budget airline Ryanair had to axe more than 80 services.
Air France cancelled two Paris services - one from London City Airport, the other from Dublin - and there were delays on five of its other services.
Ferry company SeaFrance, which operates the Dover-Calais crossing, switched all its tourist passengers to P&O Ferries and sailed as a freight-only operator.
British Airways flights operated normally and the London to Paris and Brussels high-speed Channel Tunnel Eurostar services also ran as scheduled.
On his airline's website, Mr Meeson attacked striking French air traffic controllers under the headline "Jet2.com condemns French strike action and calls for lazy frogs to get back to work".
Mr Meeson was incensed that French police allowed about 50 students to stage a runway sit-down that stopped about 100 passengers boarding a Boeing 737 at Chambery airport in the French Alps.
Mr Meeson said later: "The 'lazy frogs' comment was meant to be a bit of fun. It was tongue-in-cheek. After all, the French call us 'les rosbifs'."
This one is going to cause a serious storm in a teacup
They tell it straight up here! 
