‘This hassle kills the holiday mood’
Holiday and business travellers were furious at the stoppage with many forced to delay their travel plans by a day while others were fearful of missing connecting flights.
One Cork family with a toddler left their home at 7am and by last night were looking at a nine-hour delay at Dublin airport before being able to fly on to Johannesburg, South Africa on a 12-hour flight.
“We hope we’ll make our connection from Madrid onwards but, if we don’t, then it’s a night in a hotel,” said mother Helen Brooks, who added that it was 18-month-old daughter Sarah’s first trip abroad and first strike.
“Of all the days it didn’t need to happen today. We heard it on the news and we’re a bit disheartened,” said father Clive Brooks.
“I suppose it could be worse,” he added.
The couple left their home early on Tuesday morning in Mallow for their 10.30am flight to Madrid but were only expecting to fly out by 7.30pm last night, some nine hours later.
“It’s very difficult for people travelling especially if they have a child. The controllers and management should have spoken during the night and solved it,” added Ms Brooks.
The family, who were flying with Iberia airlines, said they had received no notice about the stoppage.
Another couple from Donegal explained how their trip to Turin for a break and to catch a football game in the Italian city had been delayed.
Sarah King and John Carr, both 21, had hoped to be in their hotel by last night. But the delay of their Iberia airline flight meant they would have to stay overnight in Madrid for their connection flight.
The trainee teachers said the strike had come at the worst time for travellers.
“People are trying to get on with their holidays. This kills the mood. It shouldn’t be going on in a recession,” said Mr Corr.
