One-day strike cancels most flights to France

Most flights between Ireland and France have been cancelled today as a result of a one-day strike by French air-traffic controllers…

Most flights between Ireland and France have been cancelled today as a result of a one-day strike by French air-traffic controllers.

The French strike is scheduled to take place today over government pension reform plans.

An Aer Rianta spokeswoman advised passengers to contact their airline before their scheduled flights.

Aer Lingus will operate just one return flight today. The Dublin- Paris flight, which leaves at 11.45 a.m., and the return, which leaves Paris at 15.15 p.m., will operate, and passengers who hold confirmed reservations for these flights should check in as normal.

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However, all other Aer Lingus flights to France have been cancelled. These are return Dublin-Paris, Dublin-Nice and Cork-Paris flights.

The airline has advised that all passengers holding confirmed reservations on the cancelled flights should contact Aer Lingus reservations on 0818 365 000 to make alternative travel arrangements. Normal Aer Lingus services to France will resume tomorrow, and there will be an additional Dublin-Nice flight.

All Ryanair flights from Ireland to French destinations have been cancelled today. Additional flights tomorrow and Thursday will be laid on.

A spokeswoman said customers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to another flight at no extra cost or a refund. Passengers should contact their local reservation centre. Details of extra flights had not yet been confirmed.

Ryanair passengers calling from Ireland should ring 0818 30 30 50; from the UK 0871 246 0016; and from the rest of Europe 00353 1 2497851.

A few flights will operate from Stansted to French regional airports.

The Air France website stated that the airline would operate all its long-haul flights and 35 per cent of its short- and medium-haul flights today.

Meanwhile, the Italian airline Alitalia cancelled 110 national and international flights yesterday as cabin staff's protest against job cuts went into a third day. Flight attendants are protesting at plans to reduce cabin crews from four to three.

Alitalia has one return flight Dublin-Milan and Dublin-Rome every day except Tuesday. The airline advises passengers to check availability with its information centre.

An Aer Lingus spokesman said its flights to Italy will operate as usual.