Pilots accept invitation to new talks with Aer Lingus to avert strike action, as rescheduled passengers express mix of concern and support

The talks will take place at 9.30am tomorrow morning at the Maldron Hotel, near Dublin Airport.

It comes after Aer Lingus wrote to the union this morning, asking it to attend a meeting with airline executives tomorrow morning.

Aer Lingus chief corporate affairs officer Dónal Moriarty said that a meeting room had been booked at an unspecified location and that the airline was awaiting a response from the union.

“We wrote to Ialpa this morning, advising them that we’ve booked a meeting room and time for a meeting tomorrow morning, and asked if they are available to meet,” he said. “We’ve been consistently available to meet to have meaningful discussions, so we’ve taken the step of booking a meeting room and a time. We’re awaiting a response at this point,” Mr Moriarty said.

Mr Moriarty said that the Aer Lingus position in respect of requiring discussions in relation to flexibility and productivity changes if it’s to consider more than the 12.25pc pay rise it has already tabled, “hasn’t changed”.

“We’ve just taken the step of setting up the meeting and asked for their availability,” he added.

Mr Moriarty said that while the airline remains disappointed that so many customers have suffered disruption on the first day of the pilots’ industrial action, the flight cancellations it affected have assisted its overall operations.

“The operation has worked quite well today, with no additional cancellations,” he said.

“There’s obviously an on-going concern that as the strict work-to-rule continues that its effect might be cumulative and that other days might be more impacted,” according to Mr Moriarty. “But as of now and as of today, no additional cancellations,” Mr Moriarty said.

“The Taoiseach has been clear this dispute is having a disproportionate impact on the travelling public. All disputes are resolved by compromise and negotiation. The Taoiseach urges both sides to engage in good faith to resolve this dispute.”

A spokesperson for the Taoiseach welcomed the development.

“The Taoiseach has been clear this dispute is having a disproportionate impact on the travelling public. All disputes are resolved by compromise and negotiation. The Taoiseach urges both sides to engage in good faith to resolve this dispute.”

Some passengers in Dublin Airport this morning were supportive of Aer Lingus pilots’ industrial action, despite impending chaos for holidaymakers and travellers over the coming weeks.

Last-ditch talks yesterday failed to bring a resolution to a dispute that has already caused huge disruption – and now thousands of airline passengers face chaos.

There is no certainty on the horizon as an indefinite work-to-rule from midnight last night could not be averted. And an eight-hour strike is set to ground more flights on Saturday. And 50 more flights were cancelled overnight.

IAG boss Luis Gallego insisted this morning that Aer Lingus remains open for “meaningful” dialogue with the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa).

Speaking at IAG’s annual general meeting, IAG boss Luis Gallego said that Aer Lingus management are working to minimise the impact of the pilot industrial action.

IAG also owns British Airways, Iberia and Vueling.

“As shareholders are probably aware, industrial action begins today at Aer Lingus,” Mr Gallego told shareholders.

“To protect as many services as possible from the impact of the industrial action, the company has cancelled a number of flights during the first five days of industrial action,” he added. “Additionally, Aer Lingus is doing everything it can to eliminate the impact for customers and will be offering a number of options to customers who are impacted.

“Aer Lingus is available for meaningful direct discussions with Ialpa in order to seek a resolution to this pay dispute and is also engaging with the Irish Labour Court,” said Mr Gallego.

Some passengers at Dublin Airport this morning showed their support for the pilot’s industrial action, with people saying it’s a role that needs to be “better paid”.

Many passengers told the Irish Independent they had booked alternative days or airlines in order to make it to their destination on time.

And most people said they had managed to find an alternative flight.

Others shared opinions on the industrial action saying that they’re in full support of the work-to-rule.

Jackie Roy travelling to Dallas, Washington to see her daughter said she “does not hold it against” the pilots for making a stand for a higher wage.

“I think the pilots are hard done by for having to work extra-long hours,” she said.

“I would rather have a pilot flying me who is fresh and happy.

“It’s our lives up there and they need to be looked after too, they deserve the extra pay and more time off for having to work long excessive hours.”

James Kiernan from Donabate who was travelling with his partner Niamh to Nice, France, on a business trip told the Irish Independent that they made a last-minute booking the day before their flight.

“We went with a travel agent who was fairly confident that our flight over to France would go ahead,” he said.

However, the couple are choosing not to return with Aer Lingus as it may be tricky with the next few days promising more flight disruptions for passengers.

He also added that he shares support for the pilots.

“It’s not a great time of year for passengers but if the pilots were to strike at a less busy period maybe it would not be noticed,” he said.

“It’s a job that should be very well paid as they are responsible for a lot of lives.”

Geraldine Kelly who came to Dublin Airport from Monaghan for her flight to Newquay, England said that while she’s not affected by the work-to-rule, she is concerned about her return flight with Aer Lingus on Tuesday.

“I might be impacted by this on Tuesday’s flight but I don’t mind staying on holidays for a few days longer,” she said.

She added that she was supportive of the industrial action and that the pilots “have a right to strike”.

Margot and Jimmy Geoghegan from Walterstown, Meath, had been looking forward to their direct flight to New York from Dublin however their flights have been rescheduled multiple times.

“We were meant to fly early this morning directly from Dublin to New York but that was cancelled,” Margot said

“Then we thought we’d be getting an evening flight directly from Dublin to New York then just yesterday evening that was cancelled.

“So now we’re going to Manchester so hopefully now we’ll get from Manchester to New York, thankfully it’s all in the same day so we’re not impacted too much.”

Speaking about their journey to the Airport this morning, Jimmy added that they were “quite anxious” that their flight would be cancelled again.

Dispute

IALPA president Mark Tighe said this morning that pilots in the union “do not want to be in this situation” but he did not rule out an all-out strike.

“I can only say that everything is on the table that hasn’t changed and that’s not going to change,” he told RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland this morning.

Following “exploratory” talks between the airline and the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) yesterday, the ­Labour Court found that no effort on its part would help end the row over pilots’ pay at this point.

It decided there was no reasonable prospect of a suspension of the planned industrial action.

The court asked Ialpa and the airline not to further ramp up the dispute before it gives a planned update on the state of play between the parties on July 1.

However, it is understood Ialpa did not give a commitment.

‘The actions continue until there’s a resolution’ – head of pilots’ union says no breakthrough in dispute with Aer Lingus yet

Mr Tighe said IALPA members have the support of Aer Lingus cabin crew.

“They can see what is going on with management, they can see the greed, they know that management have gotten the 66pc increase, and we have tremendous support from our colleagues.”

He highlighted what he described the airline’s mismanagement of resources, as he questioned how “a few pilots” could cause such disruption.

“Questions need to be asked about how on earth a few pilots who are not working days off are causing this, when they have bigger problems on how to manage the company.”

A message sent to members of Ialpa yesterday, seen by the Irish ­Independent, informs them it had received ­correspondence from the court.

It said the court advised “that they will not intervene in the dispute at this time, however they will review in July”.

The message says the industrial action due to take place today will go ahead as planned.

“Instructions will be issued to members by Ialpa at 00:01 on the 26th of June 2024,” it says.​

The union told members it wrote to Aer Lingus on June 23 requesting that it schedule talks for both parties to recommence negotiations.

“Ialpa has not received a response to date,” it said.

The cancellation of a further 50 flights, on July 1 and 2, was announced yesterday. They add to the 200-plus cancellations already announced by the airline.

The airline and Ialpa, a branch of the Fórsa trade union, have been involved in a heated exchange of words in recent days, with each accusing the other of not engaging.

Dónal Moriarty Aer Lingus Chief Corporate Affairs Officer speaking after talks with WRC

The pilots are seeking a pay increase of 24pc, which they say equates to inflation since the last pay rise in 2019.

Aer Lingus has said it is willing to offer pay increases of 12.5pc or above if “improvements in productivity and flexibility” are discussed.

Both sides agreed to attend separate meetings at the Labour Court in Dublin yesterday to provide briefings on the industrial stand-off.

After talks failed, Aer Lingus said it was “disappointed” the Labour Court had assessed that it could not currently assist to bridge the gap between the sides.

‘Very serious’

Outgoing Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has described the current Aer Lingus dispute as a “very serious situation”.

“It is very damaging for Irish economy, for our reputation, for tourism. But more importantly, just the lives of ordinary people. We’ve heard human stories of weddings, of families.

“We’ve listened to spokespersons from both the airline and pilots saying they’re inviting each other to meetings and yet meetings aren’t happening.

“So there seems to be disagreement even about the terms of engagement. And normally, when two parties want to meet each other, it happens. So they need to meet.

“It is concerning that the Labour Court clearly arrived at a view having met both on a bilateral basis, that there wasn’t a foundation for further engagement right now.

“Every day that this goes on, just causes more and more damage and human misery.

“As soon as they get into a room and sit down around a table the better because the damage is only going to grow,” he added.

Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Wednesday June 26

‘Leave the egos at the door’

Minister Heather Humphreys called for “intensive efforts” to resolve the situation

Minister Heather Humphreys said she fully understood how upsetting and frustrating it was for people, including those who hoped to get married abroad.

‘We need to leave the egos at the door and get back into that negotiation room — that’s my message to both parties. Start talking,” she said. “There has to be compromise.”

“The Labour Court remains available for the parties,” the minister said, and the dispute would be fully reviewed on July 1. It had urged them to desist from any escalation in the meantime.

Ms Humphreys said” “It’s awful for parents to break this news to their children and my heart goes out to them, it really does.”

The Taoiseach met with employer and union representatives on Monday and urged a solution, she said.

Louise O’Reilly TD said the Coalition’s “hands-off approach” was not working and was a “dereliction of duty.” She told the Dáil it is incumbent on the Government to intervene and get all sides around the table to end the Aer Lingus strike.

Ms O’Reilly said that, despite the Taoiseach’s remarks, industrial action had started today at a minute past midnight.

“People would like to see some decisive action from the Government. This is not a run-of-the-mill dispute,” she said. “It threatens connectivity.”

Ms O’Reilly said nearly 300 flights had been cancelled “with more to follow.” The further impacts of the work-to-rule and the ban on overtime were difficult to predict.

“Passengers have been warned that they may have flights cancelled right up to the moments that they arrive at the departure gates.

“This has upended the holiday plans have tens of thousand of workers and families, many of whom can scarcely afford to re-arrange their plans.

“And let’s be honest minister, people have worked hard all year. They have booked their annual leave, their few weeks off. They’re now faced with the prospect of having to tell their employer that they might need more annual leave, and more importantly, tell the kids that the holiday is cancelled.”