THOSE TRAVELLING TO, from, and within France today should expect widespread disruptions as French trade unions stage the third national strike in a month.

Half of all flights to and from Paris Orly airport, and one in three at Charles de Gaulle and Beauvais have been cancelled, according to the BBC.

Ryanair has confirmed that it had been forced to cancel 250 flights into and through French air space today, 10 of which are out of or into Irish airports, reports the Irish Independent.

Meanwhile Aer Lingus said it has cancelled two flights between Dublin and Charles de Gaulle, according to the Irish Times.

Those planning to travel by rail and bus should be aware that while the Eurostar service from Paris to London is expected to run as normal, only one in three TGV high-speed trains will operate today. Meanwhile, all commuter trains in Paris will be out of service.

The metro will be only slightly affected and buses should run as usual.

As well as transport workers, teachers, postal workers and lorry drivers are also joining the strikes.

The strikes are taking place because French ministers wish to raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62, and the state pension age from 65 to 67 in order to save €70bn.

Francois Chereque, the leader of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) told the BBC:

This is one of the last chances to make the government back down. The large majority of employees cannot afford to pay for repeated days of strikes.

However, Labour Minister Eric Woerth said:

We’re not here to do what’s easy, we don’t always have the people’s approval. It’s difficult to tell the French that the they have to work more, up to 67 years, but it has to be done.