Talks between Aer Lingus management and a pilot union ended last night without agreement and no further discussions are currently scheduled.
It raises the prospect of strike action within just over a week that would impact tens of thousands of Aer Lingus passengers, including holidaymakers.
It is believed there remains a significant gulf between the two sides in terms of their demands.
The airline has asked the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) to give it at least 15 days’ notice of any action so it can help affected passengers.
“Aer Lingus met with Ialpa again today for direct discussions with a view to reaching agreement on pilot pay,” said a spokesperson for Aer Lingus yesterday evening. “No meaningful progress was made, with Ialpa continuing to demand an unsustainable level of increase in pilot pay (up to 23.8pc) that was not supported by any increases in productivity or flexibility.”
Ialpa president Mark Tighe said the result of the ballot, where 98pc of members voted in favour of taking industrial action up to and including full withdrawal of labour, showed that Aer Lingus pilots are “determined to secure a fair and reasonable pay rise after years of inflation”.
The airline said any move to strike action would be “entirely regrettable” and insisted talks are ongoing.
With the busy summer season kicking off, Aer Lingus will be carrying about 40,000 passengers every day on its services and it is likely about 95pc of passengers on any given strike day would be inconvenienced.
The impact would be felt by customers in Ireland, across Europe and in the United States and Canada.
Travel agents are advising passengers set to travel this summer to “stay calm” and refrain from making any changes to bookings as they remain hopeful the dispute will be resolved.
Passengers have rights under EU regulations if their flight is delayed or cancelled, with the entitlements varying depending on the circumstances. The options can include rerouting or a full refund.
Industry experts are confident that a strike will be averted, with one saying that even the threat of industrial action is enough in itself to cost an airline millions every day in lost bookings.
“You can cost an airline €6m or €7m a day in advance bookings lost just by threatening a strike,” said travel expert Eoghan Corry.
“You can agree a deal with two days to go and you have a win-win situation. That’s the nature of industrial relations in aviation.”
Mr Corry said his “instinct” is that the dispute will be resolved, but passengers should be assured that the airline will get them to their destination regardless.
“If you have booked with Aer Lingus, that contract is still in place,” he said. “If there is a strike, you will still be brought to wherever you’re supposed to go.
“You either get to the place you want to go or get your money back in as timely a fashion as possible.”
While headlines may be “unsettling” for those set to travel, passengers should be aware that it is not a certainty that a strike will be called and the airline will have alternative arrangements in place if action is taken.
Click & Go CEO Paul Hackett has advised holidaymakers to “sit tight”.
He said: “There are no flights cancelled, there is no industrial action, if people change flights now it will be at their own cost.
“No one wants to incur additional costs over something that may or may not happen.”
As talks continue, travel agents have also urged holidaymakers to ensure they are covered by travel disruption insurance, which covers transport or accommodation-related costs up to around €1,000 per person.
“If people are booking now, they should make sure that they have travel disruption insurance,” said Clare Dunne, CEO of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), who is hopeful the dispute will be resolved.
“It’s not too late to get that insurance if you haven’t already… the strike hasn’t been confirmed and the dates are not confirmed.”
Passengers should also be aware there is often a seven-day moratorium period on travel-disruption insurance from the date it is added to the policy, she said.
“If you haven’t booked with a travel agent and you have made a flight booking with a separate accommodation booking, the airline’s only obligation is to fly you there or give you a refund on the flight.
“You could be left with the accommodation and not be able to get there. If you have travel-disruption insurance, it will help.”
She urged any worried holidaymakers to “stay calm” and to contact their travel agents who have “seen it all” and will be able to find a solution.
