Libya action hits Ryanair flights

Budget airline Ryanair has had to alter its flights to Sicily due to the air strikes against Libya.

The low-fare Irish carrier flies to and from Trapani airport in Sicily but the airport has been closed to all civilian air traffic since the offensive began against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

Ryanair, whose Sicily services include flights from Stansted airport in Essex, has now switched all its Trapani flights to Palermo airport, about 35 miles away.

Italy has moved F-16s and Eurofighter aircraft from bases in northern Italy to Trapani.