Airline to fly despite French strike

Aer Lingus plans to continue flying to Paris and Nice today despite a threatened strike by French air traffic controllers.

A spokeswoman for the airline last night advised passengers to check in at normal times for departure. While delays could be expected, "we have been advised it is not an all-out strike but industrial action. So at this stage no flights have been cancelled," she said.

In contrast, Ryanair said it had cancelled all flights to and from France today because of the industrial dispute. The airline said it would add a number of extra flights tomorrow and Thursday to accommodate customers whose flights were cancelled.

Today's day of action - the third in as many weeks - will see air traffic controllers and railway workers joining teachers in a wave of walkouts timed to coincide with the start of a French parliamentary debate on a pensions bill. The extent of the disruption will only emerge as the day progresses with some reports claiming that some staff will remain on duty, thereby keeping airports and train stations open.

"The information we are getting from Paris is that we will be able to operate," said the Aer Lingus spokeswoman. "When this happened in previous weeks we always managed to get flights away."

Ryanair said passengers could transfer free of charge on to new flights tomorrow, including Dublin-Paris Beauvais departing at 3 p.m., and Paris Beauvais-Dublin, at 5.55 p.m. There will also be extra flights from London Stansted to French cities.