A strike by air traffic controllers in France - which had been due to carry on until the weekend - has ended after two days.

Unions say they have made progress with the French government on modernisation plans.

Hundreds of flights had to be rerouted or cancelled while the action was going on, causing problems for thousands of passengers.

Ryanair says it was as badly affected as stranded customers by this week's industrial action and has sympathised with its passengers.

Meanwhile, a linked strike in Belgium had a less serious affect on the travelling public. Authorities there are due to issue an update on any plans for further plans to strike by midday, but any action currently underway will end at 3 O'clock today. It is understood Irish flights were not badly affected by that set of stoppages.

Robin Kiely, Ryanair's Head of Communications, told Newstalk's Breakfast his airline is doing its best to deal with the fallout of the strikes: