Weekend travel: 25 airports closed

TRAVELLERS are facing a nightmare weekend on the roads, trains and planes as school holidays coincide with a train strike and airport closures.

Plane delays and cancellations

Twenty-five French airports are closed today until at least 14.00 because of the cloud of volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland that has paralysed air travel across much of northern Europe. The full list is at the bottom of this article.

Flights to London will be disrupted until at least 20.00 French time as the airspace remains closed. Ireland and Scotland flights could recommence from about 14.00.

Many other European destinations, including Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Amsterdam and Brussels are also affected.

Air security body Eurocontrol warns the knock-on effect from the cancellations will last at least another two days, as planes and crew are in the wrong places and there is a backlog of passengers to clear.

French civil aviation body DGAC says passengers must check with their airline before heading to the airport. Please do not call The Connexion offices, as we are unable to provide any more information.

Air France can be reached on 3654, or you can send a text message containing your flight number to 63654. Cancellation details are also online at www.airfrance.fr

Easyjet is warning of high call volumes to its help centre - but is putting all flight running information online here.

Train delays

The SNCF strike is now in its 10th day and, despite some negotiations at a regional level, shows no sign of ending yet.

Most TGVs are running as normal today but many of them are full because of the backlog. No tickets are on sale between Paris and the south-east of France (via Marseille) for travel this weekend.

The official estimates on the rest of network are 80% of TER trains running today, 86% of Intercités and 63% of Corail and Téoz services.

Live train info for major stations
Paris suburban routes
TER local services in your area

Road delays

This weekend marks the end of the Easter holidays for Zone B (the south-east, centre and far north of France). It is also the start of the holidays for Zone C - Paris, the Ile-de-France and the Aquitaine.

Traffic monitor Bison Futé has issued an "orange" alert for the national road network for both today and Saturday, meaning up to 350km of congestion is expected on the roads.

Check the roads where you are travelling using this interactive map.

The full list of closed airports at 8.30 (source DGAC)

Charles de Gaulle
Orly
Le Bourget
Calais
Merville
Le Touquet
Dieppe
Cherbourg
Amiens
Lille
Valenciennes
Brest
Lannion
Deauville
Morlaix
Quimper
Rennes
Caen
Strasbourg
Vatry
Reims
Metz
Beauvais
Toussus-le-Noble
Pontoise.

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