Irish rugby fans to avoid impact of French air traffic controller strike

Irish rugby fans look set to escape travel disruption on their way to Paris despite French air traffic controllers' plans to strike this Friday.

Ireland play New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals at 8pm on Saturday night and the French Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has asked carriers to cancel 40% of their flights to Paris-Orly, the city's second airport, the day before.

While there are 37 flights scheduled to Paris on Friday, there are just three to Orly from Dublin, the only Irish airport serving the destination.

Two are being operated by Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling, at 0920 and 1410, and one by Transavia (KLM-Air France's budget brand) at 1955.

Transavia confirmed to RTÉ Sport that their sold-out flight will proceed as planned while the Vueling website also currently lists their two scheduled departures as being 'on time'.

The DGAC has also asked carriers to cut traffic to Paris-Beauvais by 15% on Friday. Ryanair has eight flights scheduled from Dublin on the day but told RTÉ Sport that they will operate as scheduled.

Strikes by air traffic controllers in protest at proposed French pension reforms have disrupted travel throughout Europe during the year but the main union representing controllers (the SNCTA) agreed last month to hold off on any further industrial action until after next year's Olympic Games in Paris.

However, air traffic controllers represented by the smaller USAC CGT and UNSA Civil Aviation unions have announced their intention to join what is a wider strike for pay increases and other social issues.

Some trains and Metro services in the French capital could be cancelled this weekend as transport unions also participate in the industrial action.

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