Irish passengers travelling to and from France and neighbouring countries are today facing disruption due to a strike over pension plans that involves workers in the French transport sector.
Ryanair reports there are some delays on its flights into and overflying France due to strike action by French air traffic controllers. However, the carrier said no flights have yet been cancelled and is advising passengers to check in as normal.
An Aer Lingus spokesman said the airline’s flights to France, Spain, and Portugal were experiencing delays of one to two hours. Passengers were again advised to check in as usual
According to Irish Ferries, the Cherboug-Rosslare Oscar Wildesailing is expected to leave the French port on schedule at 12.45. The vessel is set to depart Rosslare, again on schedule, at 5pm for Roscoff.
Dockers and port workers joined thousands of civil servants in demonstrating in Marseille today
Trains to Paris airports will be halved, and roughly one in two trains will be running nationwide, with most disruption focused on regional rail services, French transport operators said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is coming under renewed pressure today as trade unions strike against his pension reform plans.
Workers in various other sectors are taking to the streets across France in protest at the plan to increase to 41 from 40 the number of years people must work before being entitled to a state pension.
Port workers have also called for a walkout to coincide with the one-day protest, continuing disruptions to shipping after some fishermen pledged to persist with action over rising diesel costs despite government aid plans unveiled yesterday.
A year after Mr Sarkozy was elected on a platform of sweeping economic reforms, his approval rating has tumbled, concern over the cost of living has grown and the global markets crisis has forced the government to lower its growth target for this year.
Today's protests mark an escalation in anti-government demonstrations this spring, and more are set to follow.
The walkouts are not expected to match the widespread travel chaos seen in November, however, when transport workers held a crippling nine-day protest against plans to scrap the special pension rights of mainly public-sector workers.
The government then negotiated an end to those entitlements, under which certain categories could draw a full pension after working for 37.5 years rather than the standard 40 years.