Aer Lingus says it will begin talks with cabin crew members next Wednesday in a bid to prevent repeats of the strike action taking place today.

Over 28,000 Aer Lingus passengers are being disrupted by the 24-hour strike. The dispute by 1,200 members of the IMPACT trade union is over what members describe as "excessive" and "erratic" work patterns.

Picket lines are being mounted at all the major Irish airports.

An eerily quiet Dublin Airport Terminal 2 this morning 

Aer Lingus cabin crew have been picketing at Dublin Airport since 5am this morning. Similar strikes are taking place at Cork and Shannon Airports.

These cabin crew staff say their rosters are unfair and could damage their health.

Pickets at Dublin Airport

The carrier says the strike has caused the cancellation of over 200 flights. Aer Lingus says the action is unwarranted and an extremely unfair imposition on the travelling public, tourists and businesses.

In a statement, the airline says "This unwarranted and unnecessary strike has caused huge disruption to the travelling public at the start of the June Bank Holiday weekend, impacting on tourists, business travellers and exporters".

This is the scene outside Aer Lingus headquarters:

"The 28,000 customers who had been booked to travel with Aer Lingus today have had to change their travel arrangements, with Aer Lingus having to do everything it can to accommodate customers on alternative dates over the weekend and beyond, up to and including having to hire in extra aircraft".

Speaking about the strike, Aer Lingus spokesman Declan Kearney said "Changes to working conditions such as rosters should be agreed in an orderly and responsible manner and our paying customers should not be used as leverage by IMPACT in their negotiations".

Here, Aer Lingus spokesperson Declan Kearney accepts a letter of protest from cabin crew members:

Newstalk's Richard Chambers is at Dublin Airport.