Irate customers queued up at Aer Lingus desks at Cork airport yesterday in the hope of making alternative flight arrangements.
The airline operated a skeleton service to London Heathrow with only two of 17 scheduled flights taking off from the airport.
Hundreds of people had their travel plans disrupted with a US businessman even going so far as to charter a flight to London to facilitate a transfer to New York for a company meeting.
Meanwhile, the chief executive of Cork Kerry Tourism, Mr Con O'Connell said if the strike continued it would have a damaging impact on an already vulnerable tourist industry.
"People have to realise the bigger picture here. Passengers are upset and that type of business cannot be bought back. All sides should try and solve this otherwise countless holidays will be lost to Ireland."
Mr O'Connell said every effort should be made to encourage visitors here particularly in light of the downturn in overseas business since September 11th.
Shannon Airport was noticeably quiet yesterday following the cancellation of Aer Lingus flights which affected transatlantic and London routes.
An airport spokesman said three Aer Lingus flights took off from Shannon and 11 were cancelled, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
The only sign of activity during the day was a long queue at the Aer Lingus desk.
Of the flights which were cancelled, three were inbound from the US and five were outbound. A further three flights on the London route were affected. One flight from and to London operated and two transatlantic flights, from Boston and from New York, arrived.
There was no visible presence of the pilots who were on strike. They concentrated their protest in Dublin.