General strike in France on 28-Oct disrupts flights

Aer Lingus cancelled two services on 28-Oct-2010 between Dublin and Paris due to a general strike in France in protest of plans to raise the retirement age, despite the national assembly's approval of the reforms on 27-Oct-2010 (CBC/RTE News/Reuters/Bloomberg, 28-Oct-2010). It still requires approval by the constitutional council where a last-minute challenge by the Opposition Socialists could mean a delay of a few days but is not expected to overturn it. Ryanair cancelled 21 flights between France and Dublin, Shannon and City of Derry airports. Flights in and out of French airports were reduced by 30% to 50% due to the one-day stoppage by air traffic controllers. It was the seventh day of protests called by the unions over the plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. Flights were expected to run as normal on 29-Oct-2010. Unions have called for another day of protests on 06-Nov-2010. The protests and strikes is expected to cost the country between EUR200 million and EUR400 million (USD280 million to USD560 million) per day, Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said 25-Oct-2010.