Pilots at Aer Lingus have supported strike action, but the exact date remains unclear. Before any industrial action can occur, the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) – the pilots’ representative union – is required to provide a minimum notice of seven days to the airline. This implies that any possible action won’t commence until the beginning of next week at the earliest.
The potential impact of the strike on air travellers is hard to predict. We are, however, approaching the year’s peak travel period, with Aer Lingus expected to transport more than 40,000 customers daily until summer’s end. A single day’s strike could disrupt travel plans for many of these travellers.
In the case of industrial action disabling Aer Lingus from operating its fleet, the company would aim to lease aircraft and crew from other airlines to maintain essential routes. This operation would be facilitated by Aer Lingus’ affiliation with the IAG group, which also includes British Airways and Iberia. However, the high travel demand of the season may restrict the availability of alternate aircraft.
In terms of passengers’ rights, if a flight is cancelled due to strike action, Aer Lingus must adhere to EU Directive 261. This regulation mandates that passengers, who face cancelled outbound flights to other countries, are entitled to either a refund or re-routing on the next available flight or at a more convenient time.
This regulation holds true even if you are abroad and your return flight is cancelled. In addition, the airline is obligated to ensure the safe return of their passengers and provide them appropriate care overseas until they can do so.
The law affirms that passengers have a right to be provided with food and drinks if they are stranded due to any travel glitches, and it may also extend to covering the expenses of hotel stays and transportation between the hotel and the airport.
When it comes to accommodation and meals, the airline might possibly cater to these, though more often than not, it won’t. In situations where the airline doesn’t fulfil these obligations and one is stuck abroad, the only course of action would be to personally organise these necessities.
What constitutes reasonable expenditure is quite subjective, but those who opt for a reasonably-priced hotel and meals while awaiting the resolution of the strike should be able to claim these costs back. It is critical to keep all receipts as they would be required to process the claim.
These receipts, not the originals, but photocopies in case they are lost, should be sent to Aer Lingus. The submission should include particulars such as booking references, passenger names, original and new flight details. If a refund is not received within a reasonable timeframe, say, four weeks, it would be advisable to contact the Irish Aviation Authority.
Compensation might be a possibility. Exceptions are made for circumstances beyond Aer Lingus’ control such as strikes by baggage handlers or air traffic controllers, but not for internal strikes. In such cases, Aer Lingus must offer compensation as per EU regulations.
The compensation amount is based on the flight distance. Short-haul flights, like Dublin to Paris, are entitled to €250 per person, €400 for medium-haul routes like Dublin to Barcelona, and €600 per person for long-haul journeys, for instance, Dublin to New York.
While airlines will not cover the cost of forfeited hotel accommodation, certain travel insurances may cover travel disruptions. However, many do not, so it is vital to diligently review the terms and conditions.