Aer Lingus has started the process of notifying nearly 40,000 passengers that their flights could be cancelled due to industrial matters. The majority of affected flights are scheduled to fly between airports in the Republic and Europe, however, some transatlantic routes may also undergo disruption. Flights from Cork, Dublin, and Shannon won’t be spared either.
While everyone booked with Aer Lingus in the near future wishes for a clear answer, at this moment – as of when this text is being written – there is no definitive answer. The process of alerting passengers about the anticipated cancellations due to commence next week has started today, with unwelcome emails probably filling inboxes throughout the weekend.
In terms of the volume of cancellations, Aer Lingus forecasts a potential daily cancellation of around 44 flights from Wednesday, June 26th to Sunday, June 30th. This disruption could affect approximately 8,000 passengers per day, assuming all flights are fully booked – a less probable scenario. Nonetheless, even with the aircrafts just half occupied, the travel plans of over 20,000 people will inevitably experience significant disturbance.
The cancellations are essentially due to the imminent peak holiday season and the anticipation that airlines would need their staff to work additional hours beyond their rostered timeframe. A work-to-rule protest means that pilots will reject such extra hours. Aer Lingus’s chief corporate affairs officer, Donal Moriarty, opined that early decisions regarding flight cancellations were needed, otherwise the work-to-rule protest could result in unpredictable outcomes including last-minute flight cancellations.
The ongoing uncertainty compels passengers to wonder when they will receive a clear understanding of the situation.
Travel authority and head of the Travel Extra magazine, Eoghan Corry, suggests that we are stepping into uncertain times and the extent of the impact of the impending work-to-rule is yet to be completely understood. It’s speculated that it could take a few days before we fully perceive what the potential consequences could be. However, we already have an idea of which flights might be impacted first by the conflict.
It has been stated that airports such as Dublin, Cork and Shannon may be affected due to Aer Lingus flight cancellations.
To minimise the disruption to passengers and curtail financial and reputation loss, industry insiders believe that Aer Lingus may be attempting to strategically outplay IALPA, the pilot’s union. To do this, Aer Lingus will strive to sustain normal operations for as long as feasible. It is envisaged that if this tactic proves successful, it would put IALPA at a disadvantage during future negotiations. On the other hand, IALPA hopes to create enough turmoil to coerce Aer Lingus back into discussions but from a weaker position.
Corry suggests that initially, Aer Lingus may opt to consolidate flights across frequently travelled short-haul routes. For instance, if Aer Lingus has four flights scheduled for a specific UK airport, it may reduce this to only three flights. This would then free up an aircraft and its crew for use elsewhere. The passengers from the cancelled flight will be accommodated on other flights going to the same uk airport, however, potentially on the same day. Although this would create a significant inconvenience for many passengers, it would circumvent the catastrophic outcome of cancelling all flights to one destination, leaving passengers stranded and complicating arrangements to get them to their desired location or back home.
You might be wondering how to fit four plane’s worth of passengers onto three planes and the resolution of this potential issue remains undisclosed.
Aer Lingus currently faces lower occupancy rates in comparison to its competitor, Ryanair, leading to vacant seats on frequently travelled routes. However, the airline still has the advantage of being able to rely on the assistance of sibling airlines such as BA, Vueling, and Iberia to provide aircraft and flight crews, despite the airline’s claims of inadequate capacity.
Potential flights for cessation are those with the fewest seat bookings. By putting these flights on hold, the disruption could be minimalised while the most significant routes are maintained.
Aer Lingus’ principal routes are undeniably their transatlantic ones; they offer tickets at higher prices compared to most short and medium distance routes, and also accommodate more passengers. Other crucial routes include those to popular southern Europe holiday destinations during peak season, such as Faro on Portugal’s Algarve, Malaga on Spain’s southern coastline, and Barcelona towards the north. The airline will make substantial efforts to preserve these flights.
The duration of the proposed strike remains uncertain, but Corry hypothesises it won’t exceed a week before discussions between Aer Lingus management and IALPA resume. Neither party can predict the extent of the damage caused by the strike, nor the ability to manage its consequences. Once these factors are understood, conversations are predicted to resume.
In 2003, Willis Walsh, then Aer Lingus CEO, successfully compelled the union back to negotiations by closing operations in response to a similar situation. However, this is seen as a high-risk move that could result in significant financial loss for the airline.
Passengers are protected under the EU Directive 261 if flights are cancelled due to the strike. If this occurs, Aer Lingus must provide the option of a refund, or rerouting on the next available flight or at a more suitable time, for passengers travelling internationally.
If overseas passengers find their return flights cancelled, they will need to follow the same procedure.
Under EU Regulation 261, you are guaranteed the right to either a refund or to be rerouted on the next available flight, or a later time convenient to you. Airlines are required to ensure their passengers safely return home and to provide for them while they are overseas until such measures can be taken. This includes offering food and drink, and if necessary, paying for a hotel stay and transportation between the hotel and airport.
If you find yourself stranded overseas and your airline fails to provide the necessary care, you will need to arrange these necessities yourself. In such instances, remaining reasonable in your spending is advised – you don’t need to opt for luxury, modest, budget-friendly choices are perfectly acceptable. It’s crucial to keep hold of all receipt in this event, as these will be required when claiming reimbursement.
When making a claim, it is crucial to only send copies of your receipts to Aer Lingus, not the originals, in case they are lost. These should be sent alongside your booking references, your name, and the details of both your original and replacement flights. If after a month you haven’t seen your reimbursement, you can contact the Irish Aviation Authority.
You may also be eligible for compensation. While disruptions caused by strikes from baggage handlers or air traffic controllers are considered extraordinary and out of Aer Lingus’ control, internal strikes are not. As a result, compensation due under EU regulations must be paid after such actions. Compensation depends on flight distance: short haul flights warrant a €250 per person payout, medium-haul flights are €400 per person, and long haul flights can get you €600 per person.
By way of example, a flight from Dublin to Paris is considered short haul, Dublin to Barcelona is medium haul, and Dublin to New York is long haul. Therefore, respectably, compensation cannot be fully guaranteed.
Corry suggests that Aer Lingus may dispute its commitment to meet EU directive 261. This regulation requires airlines to compensate their passengers for flight delays or cancellations. It’s plausible that the airline will argue in court that they’ve made every effort to prevent the disagreement, including employing all the resources offered by the Workplace Relations Commission.
The ultimate decision may hinge on financial implications, but the option to contest EU 261 legally is undoubtedly an avenue open to them. Much legal talent is available to present their side of the argument, though it’s unclear who would prevail in such a court battle, which could span several years.
As for covering the costs of forfeited hotel reservations, the airline will not shoulder that burden. However, certain holiday travel insurance policies may include provisions for travel disruptions – though many do not. Therefore, it would be advisable for travellers to review their policy terms thoroughly.