As the wage dispute between Aer Lingus and its pilots remains unresolved, International Airlines Group (IAG), the airline’s parent company, plans to divert the first of six long-haul Airbus aircraft initially marked for the Irish airline to another sister company. If not resolved by April 29th, the Airbus A321 XLR planes are set to be assigned to another business under the IAG umbrella. IAG expressed disappointment that Aer Lingus couldn’t secure the necessary cost structure guarantees for the said investment.
To resolve the dispute, the Labour Court has listened to representations from both Aer Lingus and the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association, and will provide a settlement recommendation. The assignment of the aircraft, designed for long-distance and cost-effective travel, to another IAG subsidiary like British Airways, Iberia, or Vueling has been hinted at if the conflict doesn’t get resolved.
Six aircraft were originally intended for Aer Lingus. The pilots’ union, Ialpa, is demanding a pay rise of more than 20 percent, arguing that this would adjust for inflation and align the pilots’ wages with the market rates. The union stated its support for Aer Lingus’s growth, however, not at the expense of its members’ pay and working conditions.