Tourists stranded by French strike
French air traffic controllers began a 32-hour stoppage at 9pm local time last night. This grounded most international flights in and out of the country.
At the same time, French hauliers stepped up their blockade of the northern town of Lille as part of a nationwide campaign for better pay and conditions.
If France’s main rail unions fulfil their threat to go on strike as well, it could bring the country to a standstill. It will also affect Irish travellers relying on trains to get to French sea and airports and is likely to cause further disruption to Irish ferry and airline schedules.
Most flights to Paris and other French cities were grounded yesterday, including all flights from Ireland to Paris operated by Aer Lingus, Air France and Ryanair.
About 1,000 Aer Lingus passengers are affected on four flights scheduled from Dublin and Cork, as well as many more travelling with Ryanair and Air France.
Ryanair was forced to cancel 44 flights to various destinations in France from Ireland and Britain. Cityjet has cancelled all flights to and from Charles de Gaulle airport today.
All airlines will be offering full refunds to passengers or flights on Wednesday. Passengers will not be offered free accommodation or a meal. All Irish flights to and from France on Wednesday will operate as scheduled unless the situation worsens.
The Irish Aviation Authority does not anticipate a major increase in workload by Irish air traffic controllers due to the air strike.
“We expect that if we are handling any extra flights it will be minimal,” said a spokesperson.
The air traffic controllers’ strike is the latest in a series this year. The last one to affect Irish flights was in July but on that occasion planes from Ireland were allowed land. Aer Lingus said they were refused permission to land in Paris on this occasion.
The situation facing Irish hauliers is uncertain, with hundreds of Irish lorry drivers racing through France to get to Calais, a port that has not been blockaded so far. Most Irish lorry drivers use the land bridge option through Britain.
“It looks like Calais will be kept open unless the situation worsens,” Jimmy Quinn of the Irish Road Haulage Association said yesterday. “We have been texting our members all over France to see where they are and how they are doing.”
About 800 Irish hauliers leave Ireland for France every weekend to make deliveries there and onward to other continental destinations.
Irish Ferries, which sails from Rosslare to Cherbourg, is not experiencing any problems. “There is no blockade there and we are sailing as normal,” said a spokesperson.
Dr James McDaid, Minister of State for Transport, said he would be closely monitoring the dispute and would raise the issue with the French authorities if needed.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French interior minister, is taking a tough stand with the strikers. Authorising the use of cranes to remove roadblocks, he told union leaders: “We will not accept paralysis”. He also sent riot police to the main river port serving Paris.
