The Current Situation

IALPA has recommended an additional and longer strike, citing the breakdown of negotiations with Aer Lingus as the primary reason. Talks aimed at resolving the dispute ended without a resolution, leading to heightened tensions between the pilots and the airline management. If Fórsa approves the recommendation, the union will provide Aer Lingus with a seven-day notice before any further strike action commences.

Background of the Dispute

The core of the dispute revolves around a 24% pay increase demanded by the pilots, who claim they have not received a raise since 2019. They argue that the proposed increase is necessary to keep up with inflation. Aer Lingus, on the other hand, has countered with an offer of a 12.25% pay increase but ties this to changes in productivity, flexibility, and other work practices.

Recent Developments

Negotiations between IALPA and Aer Lingus took place yesterday, lasting about five hours. Despite IALPA softening their pay claim, Aer Lingus described the reduction as minimal and insufficient to bridge the gap between the two sides. IALPA accused the airline of escalating the dispute by attempting to renegotiate all collective agreements, a claim that Aer Lingus denies. The airline has urged IALPA to obtain a mandate from its members to negotiate on productivity and flexibility as part of any pay increase discussions.

Impact on Flights

The ongoing industrial action has already caused significant disruptions. Since last Wednesday, Aer Lingus has canceled 270 flights, and further cancellations are expected as the situation develops. The airline is currently evaluating its options for additional actions next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, promising to keep customers informed of any changes.

Reactions and Statements

Aer Lingus has condemned the threat of further strike action as entirely inappropriate, especially after the Labour Court’s recent request to avoid escalating the dispute. The airline maintains that its proposed pay increase is fair, given that other employee groups within the company have only received a 12.25% increase.

IALPA, however, remains firm in its stance, insisting that their demands are justified due to the lack of pay raises over the past five years and the rising cost of living. The union’s recommendation for a longer strike reflects their dissatisfaction with the current state of negotiations and their determination to secure better pay conditions for their members.

Potential Outcomes

The decision made by Fórsa’s disputes committee today will be crucial in determining the next steps in this industrial dispute. If additional strikes are sanctioned, the impact on Aer Lingus operations and passengers could be significant, leading to further flight cancellations and disruptions.

The ongoing conflict highlights the broader challenges facing the aviation industry, where balancing employee demands and operational sustainability remains a delicate task. As the situation unfolds, both parties are under pressure to find a resolution that addresses the pilots’ pay concerns while ensuring the continued smooth operation of the airline.

Conclusion

The next few days will be critical for Aer Lingus, its pilots, and passengers. The outcome of today’s meeting by Fórsa’s disputes committee will determine whether the airline will face further disruptions. As both sides prepare for potential additional strikes, passengers are advised to stay updated on the latest developments and plan accordingly.

As the situation evolves, more Aer Lingus flight cancellations may occur. Here is the list of flights cancelled as of today, Saturday, June 22:

Aer Lingus Releases List of Flight Cancellations Due to Pilots’ Strike

Wednesday, June 26

• Cork (ORK), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0724 at 20:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands – EI0602 at 06:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany – EI0332 at 06:40
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Birmingham (BHX) – EI0276 at 19:20
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Brussels (BRU), Belgium – EI0638 at 17:55
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany – EI0698 at 17:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Frankfurt (FRA), Germany – EI0656 at 16:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0166 at 13:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0182 at 19:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Manchester (MAN) – EI0208 at 12:50
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Munich (MUC), Germany – EI0356 at 16:25
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to New York (JFK), USA – EI0105 at 11:05
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Paris (CDG), France – EI0526 at 13:00

Thursday, June 27

• Cork (ORK), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0724 at 20:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands – EI0608 at 13:40
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany – EI0332 at 06:40
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Birmingham (BHX) – EI0276 at 19:20
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Brussels (BRU), Belgium – EI0638 at 17:55
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Geneva (GVA), Switzerland – EI0680 at 06:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0164 at 12:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0182 at 19:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Manchester (MAN) – EI0208 at 12:50
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to New York (JFK), USA – EI0105 at 11:05
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Paris (CDG), France – EI0528 at 18:20
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Rome/DaVinci (FCO), Italy – EI0404 at 10:25
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Vienna (VIE), Austria – EI0660 at 06:10

Friday, June 28

• Cork (ORK), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0724 at 20:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands – EI0602 at 06:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany – EI0332 at 06:40
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to New York (JFK), USA – EI0105 at 11:05
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0164 at 12:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Manchester (MAN) – EI0208 at 12:50
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Paris (CDG), France – EI0526 at 13:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Munich (MUC), Germany – EI0356 at 16:25
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Frankfurt (FRA), Germany – EI0656 at 16:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany – EI0698 at 17:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Brussels (BRU), Belgium – EI0638 at 17:55
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0182 at 19:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Birmingham (BHX) – EI0276 at 19:20
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Rome (FCO) – EI0406 at 15:45

Saturday, June 29

• Cork (ORK), Ireland to Dubrovnik (DBV), Croatia – EI0804 at 05:45
• Cork (ORK), Ireland to Lanzarote (ACE), Spain – EI0876 at 06:40
• Cork (ORK), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0710 at 07:20
• Cork (ORK), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0712 at 11:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Athens (ATH), Greece – EI0440 at 05:55
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Bordeaux (BOD), France – EI0506 at 06:10
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Geneva (GVA), Switzerland – EI0680 at 06:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Naples (NAP), Italy – EI0450 at 06:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands – EI0602 at 06:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Madrid (MAD), Spain – EI0592 at 06:20
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Rome/DaVinci (FCO), Italy – EI0402 at 06:20
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Birmingham (BHX) – EI0262 at 06:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Manchester (MAN) – EI0202 at 06:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0152 at 06:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany – EI0332 at 06:40
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Paris (CDG), France – EI0520 at 06:40
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Barcelona (BCN), Spain – EI0562 at 06:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Brussels (BRU), Belgium – EI0630 at 06:50
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany – EI0692 at 06:50
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Frankfurt (FRA), Germany – EI0650 at 07:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Tenerife (TFS), Spain – EI0762 at 07:05
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Zurich (ZRH), Switzerland – EI0342 at 07:10
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Munich (MUC), Germany – EI0352 at 07:10
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Lanzarote (ACE), Spain – EI0776 at 07:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Malaga (AGP), Spain – EI0580 at 07:20
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0154 at 07:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Dubrovnik (DBV), Croatia – EI0476 at 07:35
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Faro Algarve (FAO), Portugal – EI0492 at 07:35
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Lyon (LYS), France – EI0550 at 07:35
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Venice (VCE), Italy – EI0422 at 07:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Lisbon (LIS), Portugal – EI0482 at 07:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Paris (CDG), France – EI0522 at 07:55
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0156 at 08:55
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0158 at 09:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Paris (CDG), France – EI0524 at 09:50
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands – EI0604 at 09:55
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Hamburg (HAM), Germany – EI0392 at 10:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Rome/DaVinci (FCO), Italy – EI0404 at 10:25
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Nice (NCE), France – EI0544 at 11:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to New York (JFK), USA – EI0105 at 11:05
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0162 at 11:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Verona (VRN), Italy – EI0412 at 11:35
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Malaga (AGP), Spain – EI0584 at 11:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Faro Algarve (FAO), Portugal – EI0494 at 11:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0164 at 12:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Nantes (NTE), France – EI0538 at 12:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Marseille (MRS), France – EI0514 at 12:50
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Lyon (LYS), France – EI0552 at 12:55
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Bilbao (BIO), Spain – EI0748 at 13:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Paris (CDG), France – EI0526 at 13:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Geneva (GVA), Switzerland – EI0684 at 13:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0166 at 13:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands – EI0610 at 18:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Paris (CDG), France – EI0528 at 18:20
• Knock-Irl West (NOC), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0916 at 13:05
• Shannon (SNN), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0380 at 07:40
• Shannon (SNN), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0386 at 17:30

Sunday, June 30

• Cork (ORK), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0724 at 20:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany – EI0332 at 06:40
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Birmingham (BHX) – EI0276 at 19:20
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Brussels (BRU), Belgium – EI0638 at 17:55
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany – EI0698 at 17:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Frankfurt (FRA), Germany – EI0656 at 16:45
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0168 at 14:30
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0182 at 19:00
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Lyon (LYS), France – EI0550 at 06:15
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Manchester (MAN) – EI0208 at 12:50
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Munich (MUC), Germany – EI0356 at 16:25
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to New York (JFK), USA – EI0105 at 11:05
• Dublin (DUB), Ireland to Paris (CDG), France – EI0526 at 13:00

Donal Moriarty, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Aer Lingus, stated that the industrial action “gets worse day by day,” increasing the risk of further cancellations. He assured that impacted passengers would be contacted and provided with options for refunds, re-accommodation, or vouchers.

The Aer Lingus pilots are demanding a 24% pay increase, arguing it matches the inflation rate since their last pay rise in 2019.

Aer Lingus has announced significant disruptions due to an ongoing pilot strike, resulting in numerous flight cancellations out of Cork Airport. The airline has released a list of 124 affected flights, with several scheduled departures from Cork among them.

Aer Lingus has confirmed that between June 26 and June 30, 10-20% of their flights will be canceled due to the strike action over a pay dispute with their pilots. However, Aer Lingus Regional flights to Bristol will remain unaffected by the industrial action.

As of today, Saturday, June 22, the following Cork flights have been canceled:

Cork Flight Cancellations Due to Aer Lingus Pilot Strike :

• Wednesday, June 26: Cork (ORK) to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0724 – 20:30
• Thursday, June 27: Cork (ORK) to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0724 – 20:30
• Friday, June 28: Cork (ORK) to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0724 – 20:30
• Sunday, June 30: Cork (ORK) to London/Heathrow (LHR) – EI0724 – 20:30

Donal Moriarty, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Aer Lingus, emphasized that the situation could worsen, potentially leading to further cancellations. He stated on RTE Radio, “What will happen over the next couple of days is that impacted passengers will be contacted and advised of cancellations if it affects them and then given their options in terms of refund, re-accommodation, or voucher.”

The Aer Lingus pilot strike stems from a demand for a 24% pay increase, which pilots argue is necessary to keep pace with inflation since their last raise in 2019.

Passengers affected by the Aer Lingus pilot strike are urged to stay informed on the latest updates and check their flight status regularly. The airline is working to notify impacted travellers and provide alternative solutions as the strike continues.

Stay tuned to Local Europe News for further updates on the Aer Lingus pilot strike and its impact on travel from Cork Airport.

Cancellations are expected to affect around 8,000 passengers daily from next Wednesday to Sunday, with between 22 and 40 flights per day impacted.

Aer Lingus has confirmed that a significant number of its flights will be cancelled next week, disrupting tens of thousands of customers. The cancellations are due to an ongoing pay dispute between the airline and its pilots.

Why Are Aer Lingus Flights Being Cancelled?

The core issue is a pay dispute. Aer Lingus pilots are demanding a 23.8% pay increase over three years to match the salaries of British Airways pilots, also part of the International Airlines Group (IAG). The pilots have rejected a Labour Court recommendation for a 9.25% pay increase.

When Will the Flight Cancellations Happen?

Due to the pilots’ work-to-rule action, Aer Lingus will cancel between 10% and 20% of its flights from Wednesday, June 26, to Sunday, June 30. This industrial action means pilots will not work overtime or out-of-hours duties, severely affecting the flight schedule.

How Many Passengers Will Be Affected?

During the busy summer months, Aer Lingus carries over 40,000 passengers daily. As a result, up to 8,000 passengers will be affected each day from Wednesday to Sunday, with 22 to 40 flights cancelled per day.

How Will I Know If My Flight Is Cancelled?

Aer Lingus will contact affected customers directly over the next few days. Passengers will receive updates and instructions via email or phone.

What Are My Alternative Options?

Aer Lingus is offering several options for affected passengers. Those scheduled to travel between June 26 and July 2 can change their flights for free. Alternatively, passengers can cancel their flights and claim a refund or a voucher. These options will be communicated directly to customers and travel agents. Passengers who booked through third parties should contact their sales agents for updates.

What Has Aer Lingus Said About the Dispute?

Aer Lingus has criticized the industrial action, calling it “wholly unnecessary” and aimed at causing maximum disruption during the peak summer season. The airline assures that its focus is on minimizing the impact on customers and communicating directly with those affected. They plan to rebook customers quickly, working with partner airlines and hiring additional aircraft if necessary.

What Is IALPA’s Stance?

IALPA, represented by Fórsa, argues that Aer Lingus management has failed to provide a meaningful pay offer considering inflation and the sacrifices made by pilots during the pandemic. IALPA President Mark Tighe stated that the pay claim for 24% is justified by inflation and Aer Lingus’s significant profit increase last year.

What Are My Rights If My Flight Is Cancelled?

Under European Union regulations, airline passengers have certain rights when flights are delayed or cancelled due to strikes. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is responsible for enforcing these rights. Passengers can find more information on their rights and potential compensation in our recent explainer.

Will There Be Further Cancellations?

It is unclear if more cancellations will follow. The dispute between Aer Lingus and IALPA remains unresolved. The Government has offered to mediate, urging both parties to utilize the State’s industrial relations services.

Stay updated on the Aer Lingus ‘Travel Advisory’ page on their website for the latest information.