Hundreds stranded as a result of French air strike

Dozens of Ryanair flights in and out of Dublin Airport have been cancelled as a result of an air traffic controller strike in France.

Sixteen flights were cancelled on Sunday and at least 16 more are due to be cancelled on Monday as a result of three days of industrial action in France.

Air traffic controllers there are protesting against a cap on recruitment and lack of investment in the systems used by workers.

The strike affects not only flights to and from France but also flights that use French airspace, mostly those to the Iberian peninsula.

The Ryanair flights cancelled on Sunday were two flights from Dublin to Barcelona and flights to Paris Beauvais, Nantes, Valencia and Malaga.

Flights from the same destinations to Dublin were also cancelled.

Aer Lingus cancelled flights to and from Madrid and Barcelona.

The flights on Monday which have been cancelled are all Ryanair flights from Dublin to French and Spanish destinations.

Ryanair has urged its customers to log on to its website at www.ryanair.com for more information.

Aer Lingus has said customers will be either put on the next available flight or get a full refund. A spokesman said they would be able to say at this stage which flights have been cancelled for tomorrow but advised customers to monitor their flight status at aerlingus.com.