Serious disruption expected from industrial action

Pilots' industrial action will last indefinitely

Aer Lingus have said they believe industrial action by pilots will cause serious disruption to customers in the peak of summer.

A spokesperson said they were assessing what it would mean for operations and they will "begin communicating with our customers as to what its impact will actually be."

Pilots who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) served notice to the airline of an indefinite work-to-rule from next Wednesday 26 June.

The move comes after the union of pilots voted 99% in support of action, up to and including a strike.

IALPA President Captain Mark Tighe said: “We are now at a point where this dispute has escalated to indefinite industrial action by pilots.

“We are in this position because management have failed to provide us with a meaningful offer on pay that accounts for inflation and the sacrifices made by pilots to save Aer Lingus during the pandemic.”

'Entirely affordable'

IALPA’s industrial action will involve a strict work to rule including not working overtime, or any other out of hours duties requested by management.

The pilots will only be working the published rosters and not accepting or working any amendments to published rosters.

Pilots will not be logging into the Aer Lingus portal or ‘e-crew’ outside of work hours and not answering phone calls outside of work hours.

CaptTighe added: “Management keep insisting that pilots must sell their working conditions in exchange for any increase in pay.

"We are absolutely not prepared to do that, especially when Aer Lingus is making enormous profits.

“Our pay claim is for 24%, which equates to inflation since our last pay rise in 2019. Aer Lingus have increased their profits by 400% to €255 million last year."

He added that this is "entirely affordable".

A spokesperson for the airline said that any industrial action would not affect Aer Lingus regional services operating between Belfast and Great Britain.