Aer Lingus warns of significant summer travel disruption

The Chief Corporate Affairs Officer with Aer Lingus has warned that disruption to customers this summer will be significant, but the airline will do all it can in order to minimise this.

Aer Lingus pilots, who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA), yesterday voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action.

Members voted 99% in favour (on a turnout of 89%) in a paper, in-person ballot that was conducted over the weekend.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Donal Moriarty of Aer Lingus said: “IALPA appear to be absolutely determined to inflict the disruption of industrial action on the travelling public this summer. Inevitably, if they do, it will involve much disruption for our customers.

“What we’re doing is preparing for that and we are communicating with our customers and try to lay out the options they have to miniseme that disruption.

“However, it will be significant. The challenge at this time of year is that all airlines are busy, not just Aer Lingus, and seeking to re-accommodate passengers on other airlines is difficult.”

Mr Moriarty said the airline has asked for 15 days notice of strike action so they can re-accommodate as many passengers as possible at a very busy time of year.

The union is required to give a minimum of seven days’ notice.

Mr Moriarty strenuously denied that the airline was looking for 15 days notice in order to avoid paying compensation under EU rules.

“We will fulfil all of our compensation obligations,” he said.

“We have no difficulty in refunding, re-accommodating or compensating customers where compensation is necessary,” he added.

He said IALPA seem determined to inflict disruption on the travelling public and Aer Lingus is preparing for this.

Mr Moriarty also said the 24% pay increase being sought by IALPA is untenable and simple will not happen.

He said the union has rejected the outcome of two independent processes to resolve the dispute – both a pilot pay tribunal and at the Labour Court.

Aer Lingus has also asked the union to engage in meaningful discussions and to attend the Workplace Relations Commission, he said but the union rejected both options.

Mr Moriarty urged IALPA and its parent union, Fórsa, to attend the WRC and resolve what he said was an “unnecessary dispute inflicted on thousands of customers at the peak of the summer.”

Yesterday, IALPA president Captain Mark Tighe said in a statement that the result of the most recent ballot was “an incredible reaffirmation of our mandate for industrial action in pursuit of a meaningful pay offer”.