Passengers trying to reach the Balearic Islands faced a second night of misery tonight as travel chiefs hoped the industrial action delaying their flight would end at midnight.
Knock-on effects from the 72-hour coach drivers' strike on the islands has meant thousands of Irish holidaymakers have faced average five hour delays going to and from Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza.
There were reports of violent confrontations, with strikers said to have slashed the tyres of taxis and stoned vehicles of strikebreakers.
The national news agency Efe said police were called in to escort buses driven by non-strikers, but the vehicles were nonetheless turned back by angry protesters.
Many passengers spent the night in Dublin or Shannon Airport overnight due to the increasing delays.
Some 300,000 tourists were expected to arrive at the Balearic islands over the weekend with 135,000 due to arrive at Palma airport in Majorca today.
Irish airport officials are urging Irish holidaymakers to contact their tour operators before travelling.
They added that should the strike continue and result in Majorca’s Palma Airport being closed, flights from Irish airports may be cancelled.
Hundreds of taxis have been ferrying people from the airport but a spokesman said: "If the strike goes on it will get worse."
Passengers should still turn up and check-in on time but be prepared for lengthy delays, he said.
The industrial action, which began at midnight on Thursday, was triggered by a dispute over pay and is expected to finish this evening
However, coach drivers yesterday rejected a possible deal in their strike over a 3 per cent pay rise, meaning further misery for the thousands of tourists heading to Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza.
Holidaymakers arriving on the islands also had to wait in taxi queues for three hours or more before being able to reach their villas and apartments.
PA