Travellers to France warned of delays as pension protests set to continue

AER LINGUS and Ryanair flights to France and Spain experienced delays because of yesterday’s nationwide industrial disputes in France.

Today, those intending to travel to France are warned to expect further delays as industrial protests look set to be maintained by some sectors.

Yesterday, on the seventh day of the strikes in France by rail workers, tens of thousands of public sector workers joined the protests.

Many flights to and from the country were affected as the protests against pension reform gathered momentum.

Ryanair said arrivals and departures were running about an hour late. Aer Lingus flights to and from France were yesterday running about 30 minutes late.

Irish Ferries said its services were operating normally.

The action by teachers, postal workers, hospital workers and other civil servants is a coordinated workers’ challenge to French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans to reform the economy.

The protests have severely disrupted schools, trains, postal services and airports. The strikes were planned to last 24 hours, although rail workers said they were striking indefinitely.