A long queue at the customer service desk was the only sign of life in the Aer Lingus departures area of Dublin airport as the strike wiped out the day's schedules.
The airport is a microcosm of the problems facing the economy. Visitors are greeted with warnings and disinfectant mats heralding the foot-and-mouth crisis; apologies and hoardings signalling the ongoing extension of the terminal buildings; and, once again yesterday, pickets at the main entrances in support of wage claims.
Laura Trevino from Washington knew about the foot-andmouth, having been in Ireland for two weeks, but the strike by Aer Lingus ground staff caught her by surprise. "I was in Derry, so I only heard about it from the cab driver at the bus station here. He suggested I go to the airport anyway, because it was the best place to complain. But it looks like I'm going to be spending another night in Ireland."
A similar prospect faced Pilar de la Maza and Lorena Gonzalez, both trying to return to Malaga via Barcelona, after two months studying English here. They called Iberia Airlines on Thursday and were told their flight was unaffected.
Now, they had no place to stay for the night, short of going back to their host families and "saying goodbye all over again". There was no offer of free accommodation or meals "or anything" from the airline. "You can say we're upset and angry."
Angry too was Daniela Kogler, an airline employee trying to get home to Austria for a family "emergency". Her Tyrolean Airlines flight had just been cancelled and the chances of an alternative flight were slim. "I rang 10 times Wednesday and Thursday and I was told there was no problem. It's ridiculous."
Aki Keskinen from Finland was luckier. He was due to fly to Stockholm with Aer Lingus until his "very good" travel agent at home heard about the strike and rebooked him on a Finnair flight, which he hoped was unaffected.
"I got a call from my secretary to tell me to get to the airport three hours earlier."
Outside the terminal, about 40 SIPTU members picketed the main entrances at lunchtime and a spokesman said "hundreds" had been involved since the 5 a.m. start. Many passing motorists beeped horns in support of the strikers and the spokesman said there had been no negative reaction.
"The company is making out that this came out of the blue, but that's rubbish. The union wrote to them as far back as November, so for them to be feigning surprise now is ridiculous."
An Aer Lingus spokesman countered that the 48-hour warning of yesterday's action was "all the notice we got". A number of administrative staff had reported for work, despite the strike - "some people were angry at what was going on."
