Aer Lingus will be forced to cancel dozens of flights next week as its pilots commence industrial action, with little hope of a quick resolution to the standoff.
If the pilots’ indefinite work-to-rule action begins next Wednesday as planned, the number of cancellations will likely increase. However, an intervention by the Labour Court or the Workplace Relations Commission this weekend is considered unlikely, as the airline and the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) remain far apart in their negotiations.
In response, Aer Lingus is scrambling to secure additional seat capacity to accommodate affected passengers. The airline is attempting to lease aircraft on a short-term basis but won’t know the availability of extra capacity until early next week.
During the summer, Aer Lingus operates around 1,550 flights weekly, or roughly 220 per day. The airline is seeking to hire aircraft on wet leases, which include both the aircraft and crew, aiming to lease wide-body jets typically used for long-haul routes to accommodate more passengers.
Joshua Falls
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