Air transport between Ireland and France will be reduced to just one passenger flight today because of a one-day strike by French civil service employees.
Aer Lingus and Ryanair have cancelled a total of 14 services as a result. "We were just told about this by the French authorities, we had no say in it," said an Aer Lingus spokeswoman.
The strike will last from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will involve the largest air traffic controllers' union in France. Hundreds of European flights will have to be cancelled or rerouted to avoid crossing into French airspace.
The French authorities have allowed Aer Lingus to operate just one flight in and out of France today. The flight to Paris will depart from Dublin at 11.45 a.m. and the return flight to Dublin will leave from Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris at 3.15 p.m.
All other Aer Lingus services from Dublin, Cork, Nice and Paris have been cancelled. Passengers with seats booked on these flights are advised to contact Aer Lingus on 0818 365 000 to make alternative travel arrangements.
Aer Lingus says that its services to France will return to normal tomorrow. It will be increasing capacity on tomorrow morning's flights to accommodate disrupted passengers.
More than 30 cancellations have been made by Ryanair, including services between Dublin, Paris and Shannon.
Ryanair said that passengers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to a refund. It is advising passengers to contact their local reservation centre.
The air traffic controllers' action is part of a wider public service strike in protest at French government plans to reform the state pension system. It will result in the cancellation of up to 80 per cent of national and international flights, according to the French Civil Aviation Authority.
Air France said that the strike had already caused it to cancel 55 per cent of its domestic and European flights today, but its long-haul services will be unaffected.
Domestic rail services, public transport in Paris, schools and power stations will also be affected by the strike.