Disruptions are expected to increase for Aer Lingus passengers as the airline declared it will cancel another 122 flights in the coming week, amid ongoing industrial action by its pilots over pay demands. The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association’s strict work to rule campaign has escalated their endeavour for an inflating 20 per cent pay hike.
Aer Lingus verified last Friday its plan to remove 122 services between Wednesday, 3rd July and Sunday, 7th July to protect as many flights as it could. The company, however, did not reveal the exact figure of customers that would be impacted. Still, estimates suggest it would be around 20,000 out of its 40,000 daily passengers on 220 flights during high season.
The airline assured that the news of cancellation would be communicated to the impacted customers and also, details would be published on the travel advisory page on the airline’s website. “All affected customers will have the privilege of altering their flights for free between July 3rd and July 7th or they could opt for a refund or a voucher”, said Aer Lingus.
Customers and travel agencies will be updated about these options along with the thorough information being uploaded on their website.
This recent decision brings the total cancelled flights to 392, as a result of a stalemate in pay negotiations with pilots. Efforts to resolve this growing dispute ended unsuccessfully last week despite the conversations involving both parties and separate Labour Court trials.
According to the pilots, the demanded pay increase would cost Aer Lingus less than €5 million, although the airline estimates it could add as much as €40 million extra annually. The union began a work-to-rule the same week, and further announced an eight-hour strike for Saturday, June 29th, which provoked the airline to cancel 270 more flights until Tuesday, July 2nd.
Despite stalled talks stretching to five hours, Ialpa pledged to increase their industrial action. While this disrupts tens of thousands of passengers’ plans, Aer Lingus considers cancellations as a pro-active approach to secure as many flights as possible.
Fórsa, the umbrella trade union including the Irish Air Line Pilots Association, has communicated to its broader membership within Aer Lingus that it is obligatory to fulfill their work duties as usual despite the strike on Saturday. The union strongly discouraged them from partaking in protest activities or interacting with the press.
In a directive disseminated to its extensive body of over 1,000 cabin crew members at the airline, Fórsa reassured the team that the pilots acknowledge their duty to continue working as there is no involvement in the dispute.
Fórsa underlined that any employees who have not cast their votes in favour of industrial action are still expected to carry out their regular duties, even if it means crossing strike lines. Employees are advised to show up to work and to be ready to be on call or perform alternate tasks if flights are cancelled.
The President of the American trade union the Allied Pilots Association, Capt Ed Sicher, that boasts a robust 16,000 membership within American Airlines penned a letter of support for the Irish group’s cause this week. Following this, American Airlines have acceded to a 46% wage increase over a four year period with the pilots’ union.