The mood among the Irish fans in Paris can best be summed up as “Que sera, sera” as contingency plans are already being calculated for what happens if the Boys in Green make it beyond the group stages.

It’s been a rocky road, but for Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland it’s about the destination, not the journey.

Ryanair has applied for slots at Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports and is willing to co-operate with long-haul traditional airlines, chief executive Michael O’Leary has told French financial daily Les Echos.

Ryanair has opposed recommendations for expansion at London’s Heathrow Airport, saying that the only solution to the airport capacity crisis in the south-east of England lies in more runways at all three of the city’s main hubs.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has ruled out a deal on Cork Airport’s debt despite the impending loss of another service.

Airline Flybe is expected to announce a new service to Cork and Dublin airports today as part of a major 10-route expansion out of Cardiff airport in Wales.

The Government should consider subsidising the Cork-Dublin air route, the chairman of the DAA has suggested, adding that Cork Airport is at a disadvantage compared to other airports.

Air travel in and out of Ireland increased significantly last year, with Dublin Airport reporting a growth higher than the European average.

At least half of all Air France flights have been cancelled as pilots begin a week-long strike amid anger over jobs and operations being moved to a low-cost carrier.

Ryanair is unlikely to launch a transatlantic service within the next five years, opting instead to further boost its position as leading short-haul operator in the European market.

I can’t lie. Paris still makes me weak. I’m indifferent as the rest of the muttering livestock through the cheap airline trip. Even taking the train from Charles de Gaulle through graffitied cement canyons and banal suburbs I can maintain my bored Gallic sang-froid. But rising like a pale little Irish salmon from the Metro into the sylvan light of the Left Bank, I’m a goner. Scurrying around the antique shops and markets is part of the integral thrill of any Parisian adventure, and you only need a day or two to immerse yourself in its magic.

Snowy conditions in London and Paris have caused Aer Lingus to cancel six round-trip flights today - but the airline says it will accommodate all affected passengers on other flights.

Air France said today that it has cancelled about 20% of its flights due to a strike by flight attendants.

Passengers spent Christmas Eve camped in airports in Paris and Brussels after new snowfall and shortages of de-icing fluid disrupted travel across Europe.

Paris’s main airport got an early Christmas gift flown in from the United States today – a supply of de-icing fluid to get planes airborne.

THE EU lashed out at airports yesterday for the “unacceptable” disruption caused by freezing weather across Europe as fresh snowfall added to the woes of thousands of stranded Christmas travellers.

Dublin Airport is set to remain closed until at least 8pm this evening and has asked passengers whose flights have been cancelled to leave the building because of what is calls "severe congestion".

SNOW and freezing temperatures continued to cause holiday travel chaos for road, rail and air passengers throughout much of Europe yesterday, raising fears that many will not get home in time for Christmas.

SHANNON AIRPORT was given a much needed boost yesterday with confirmation Aer Lingus will resume its Paris-Charles de Gaulle service from December.

WORKERS opposed to a higher retirement age blocked roads to airports around France yesterday, leaving passengers in Paris dragging suitcases on foot along an emergency breakdown lane.

Police broke through barricades around French fuel depots today as the government took a tough line with strikers threatening to bring the country to a halt.

RYANAIR hopes the Government’s financial woes will help the low-cost carrier finally seal a takeover of Aer Lingus, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has told a German newspaper.

France’s retirement protest strikes turned violent today as youths clashed with riot police in cities across the country.

Some airlines steered clear of France today, and police clashed with stone-throwing youths, as a new round of nationwide strikes and protests over a bill raising the retirement age to 62 kicked off.

FRANCE will be plunged into more strike chaos today with the threat of fuel shortages, street protests, and disrupted public transport and air travel.

France will be plunged into more strike chaos tomorrow with the threat of fuel shortages, street protests, and disrupted public transport and air travel.

Nicolas Sarkozy remained defiant over his plan to raise France’s retirement age to 62 and his government vowed to defeat efforts to block fuel after strikes sparked fears of a shortage.

France's main airport, Charles de Gaulle, has enough fuel to last only a few days.

AT least one airline has emerged as a potential replacement carrier to take over the Shannon to Paris route which Ryanair will abandon next month despite its success.

Holidaymakers heading to Paris today could find that their flight has been cancelled.

French workers went on strike today to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to raise the retirement age to 62.

VOLCANIC ash sifted down on parts of northern Europe yesterday and 17,000 thousand planes stayed on the tarmac to avoid the hazardous cloud as travel chaos engulfed major European cities.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed today as air traffic controllers across France began a four-day strike.

French air traffic controllers are planning a four-day strike from tomorrow over job fears.

Flights at Paris’ two main airports were being hit by an air traffic controllers strike today.

MASS flight cancellations heaped fresh misery on European travellers yesterday, as the freezing weather, which caused many deaths, brought chaos to Christmas holiday plans.

A Yemenia Air plane going from the Arabian Peninsula country of Yemen to the island nation of Comoros crashed in the Indian Ocean early today, a Yemen airport official said.

Air France has announced an expansion of services on its Shannon to Paris route.

More than 600,000 French homes suffered power cuts today after 90 mph winds brought chaos to the north and west of the country.

France was this evening bracing itself for a powerful storm on the way in from the Atlantic.

Almost 200 Irish holidaymakers returned home safely tonight after their flight from Spain was delayed and later diverted over safety concerns.

SHANNON is successfully managing the connectivity crisis triggered by the January 1 termination of the Aer Lingus Heathrow service, the airport director said yesterday.

Aer Lingus is to launch a new service between Belfast and Paris next month, it announced today.

A second day of strikes by French air traffic controllers forced officials to cancel about half the flights at Paris’s second-biggest airport, Orly, today, civil aviation authorities said.