Aer Lingus to cancel up to 20% of flights due to ‘insidious’ pilot industrial action

Planned industrial action by Aer Lingus pilots is “insidious”, the airline said as it announced plans to cut between 10 and 20 per cent of flights over a five-day period next week.

Aer Lingus warned the ‘zealousness’ action would have a “cumulative and negative impact” on customers, including flight cancellations in the run-up to travel.

In a statement, the airline said: “In order to protect as many services as possible from the impact of industrial action, Aer Lingus must take the step of canceling between 10% and 20% of our flights over the first five days of the year. the strike – from Wednesday June 26 to Sunday June 30.

“These cancellations will be implemented over the next two days. Implementing these cancellations should allow us to protect as many services as possible for as many of our customers as possible.

In addition, Aer Lingus announced today that it will offer a number of options to customers who may be affected by the planned industrial action by the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association.

Customers will have the option to change their flight for free or cancel their flight and request a refund or voucher.

Aer Lingus said the industrial action by the Irish Airline Pilots Association came during “the peak holiday season for families”.

The airline said: “We will do everything possible to minimize the impact on customers.

“However, it is inevitable that there will be some disruption as a result of this industrial action, and we will communicate any changes, delays or cancellations to affected customers as soon as possible.

“In the event of a cancellation, we will seek to re-accommodate customers as quickly as possible and will work with other airlines, with partner airlines and seek to lease aircraft for this purpose.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris urged the airline and pilots to “sort this out”, noting that the matter had been considered by the national labor relations institutions.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Harris said: “Many, many families across the country have seen parents and others go to work during the year and save a few tickets to try to take their children on family vacation.

“And the idea of ​​passengers – children who are due to go on summer holidays – being used as pawns in an industrial relations dispute already being considered by the employment tribunal is completely reprehensible and people need to step back . »

Asked what the government could do in this dispute, Mr Harris said it had already provided the state’s industrial relations mechanisms.

He added: “I would absolutely encourage people to use them.

“And let me tell you this: people have the right to engage in labor disputes, but I think anyone who engages in industrial relations dispute and doesn’t use these mechanisms, I don’t imagine not that he’ll get much gratitude or support. of the Irish people, of the Irish parents, who are trying to pack their bags and take their children on holiday, not knowing if this will now be able to happen.

“So get back in a room and sort this out, that’s my very clear message.”