LAST UPDATE | 19 hrs ago

AER LINGUS HAS cancelled 124 flights affecting 20,000 customers ahead of planned industrial action next week as pilots from the airline announced this afternoon that there will be further action in the form of a full eight-hour strike next weekend.

Having already announced industrial action, the pilots have escalated the situation by committing to an all out strike on Saturday 29 June. The pilots are in a pay dispute with Aer Lingus.

Aer Lingus has condemned the move to strike and said it will “inflict further pain on passengers”.

Aer Lingus is taking the step of cancelling between 10% and 20% of its flights on the first five days of the industrial action, which spans Wednesday 26 to Sunday 30 June.

But the company warned that the industrial action may see further cancellations “close to the time of travel” for some customers.

The flights that have been cancelled are:

• Short-haul Dublin – London Heathrow; Paris; Amsterdam; Lyons; Berlin; Birmingham; Brussels; Dusseldorf; Rome; Frankfurt; Geneva; Hamburg; Manchester; Munich; Vienna
• Short-haul Cork – London Heathrow
• Long-haul Dublin – JFK.

Escalation

Pilots from the airline have this afternoon announced a full strike to take place on Saturday, 29 June for eight hours, citing “antagonism” from Aer Lingus management as reason for the escalation. 

The union served formal notice to Aer Lingus management this afternoon informing the airline of the strike which will run from 5am to 1pm.

IALPA President Captain Mark Tighe told RTÉ’s Drivetime programme that it appears to him that the company has moved away from negotiations completely and is instead attempting “a union bust”.

In a statement, Tighe said: “We have been forced to escalate this dispute following a campaign of antagonism by Aer Lingus management directed toward our members.

“Rather than meeting with IALPA for direct negotiations to resolve this dispute, the airline is sending letters to IALPA threatening to cut members’ terms and conditions by unilaterally terminating collective agreements.

“Aer Lingus’ legal representatives have also written to each member of the IALPA executive committee this week, in their personal capacities, threatening to issue proceedings in the High Court for alleged unlawful conduct regarding an alleged increase in pilot absence due to illness.

“IALPA refutes this allegation in the strongest terms.”

He added that Aer Lingus has not sought meetings with pilots since the notice of work-to-rule was served earlier this week, saying the airline has not made an effort to negotiate a settlement to prevent the industrial action.

Tighe also said the scale of next week’s flight cancellations “illustrates the extent to which the company relies on the flexibility and goodwill of pilots”.

“We go above and beyond to provide a good service to our customers. The company has recently enjoyed a 400% increase in profits, which demonstrates how much the company benefits directly from that flexibility and goodwill,” he said.

“As always, IALPA remains open to talking with Aer Lingus in direct negotiations to settle this dispute in a way that fairly deals with pilots’ pay,” he said.

Aer Lingus said it is “appalled that IALPA would further escalate this industrial action”, following what it called “the insidious action previously announced”.

“IALPA’s decision is clearly designed to inflict maximum damage on passenger’s travel plans at the peak of the holiday season,” the company said. 

“Aer Lingus will assess the impact of this notice of strike action and do everything we can to minimise the further disruption this will cause to passengers.”

‘Step back from the brink’

Taoiseach Simon Harris has appealed for the company and the pilots to “step back from the brink” and find a way to resolve the dispute.

Harris said that he does not “think there is a justification” for people who are about to “go on their summer holidays, people who’ve worked hard and saved up throughout the year” to be seriously discommoded by this action.

“And what I’m asking is now we shorten the protracted process and all the chaos that will ensue for people and actually get around the table quickly,” he added.

In a statement earlier this afternoon, the airline said it has automatically rebooked some customers onto alternative flights and has begun emailing all other customers informing them of the cancellation. It’s advising them of their options: to change their flight for free, to request a refund or to request a voucher.

It added that Aer Lingus Regional flights, operated by Emerald Airlines, are unaffected by IALPA’s industrial action and will operate as scheduled.

Aer Lingus said the “indefinite form” of IALPA’s industrial action will “severely disrupt passengers” in the peak of the summer season.

“The level of cancellations is currently at the lower end of the 10% – 20% range. However, given the form of the industrial action there may be additional cancellations which happen close to the time of travel.”

The company said the most up to date information on IALPA’s industrial action can be found on the ‘Travel Advisory’ page on the Aer Lingus website, at aerlingus.com.

The following list of flights will be cancelled:

Flights departing Ireland
26 June
Cork (ORK), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0724 20:30:00
Dublin (DUB), Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands EI0602 06:15:00
Dublin (DUB), Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany EI0332 06:40:00
Dublin (DUB), Birmingham (BHX) EI0276 19:20:00
Dublin (DUB), Brussels (BRU), Belgium EI0638 17:55:00
Dublin (DUB), Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany EI0698 17:30:00
Dublin (DUB), Frankfurt (FRA), Germany EI0656 16:45:00
Dublin (DUB), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0166 13:30:00
Dublin (DUB), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0182 19:00:00
Dublin (DUB), Manchester (MAN) EI0208 12:50:00
Dublin (DUB), Munich (MUC), Germany EI0356 16:25:00
26-Jun-24 Dublin (DUB), New York (JFK), New York, USA EI0105 11:05:00
26-Jun-24 Dublin (DUB), Paris (CDG), France EI0526 13:00:00
27 June
Cork (ORK), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0724 20:30:00
Dublin (DUB), Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands EI0608 13:40:00
Dublin (DUB), Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany EI0332 06:40:00
Dublin (DUB), Birmingham (BHX) EI0276 19:20:00
Dublin (DUB), Brussels (BRU), Belgium EI0638 17:55:00
Dublin (DUB), Geneva (GVA), Switzerland EI0680 06:15:00
Dublin (DUB), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0164 12:00:00
Dublin (DUB), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0182 19:00:00
Dublin (DUB), Manchester (MAN) EI0208 12:50:00
Dublin (DUB), New York (JFK), New York, USA EI0105 11:05:00
Dublin (DUB), Paris (CDG), France EI0528 18:20:00
Dublin (DUB), Rome/DaVinci (FCO), Italy EI0404 10:25:00
Dublin (DUB), Vienna (VIE), Austria EI0660 06:10:00
28 June
Cork (ORK), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0724 20:30:00
Dublin (DUB), Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands EI0602 06:15:00
Dublin (DUB), Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany EI0332 06:40:00
Dublin (DUB), Birmingham (BHX) EI0276 19:20:00
Dublin (DUB), Brussels (BRU), Belgium EI0638 17:55:00
Dublin (DUB), Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany EI0698 17:30:00
Dublin (DUB), Frankfurt (FRA), Germany EI0656 16:45:00
Dublin (DUB), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0158 09:45:00
Dublin (DUB), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0164 12:00:00
Dublin (DUB), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0182 19:00:00
Dublin (DUB), Manchester (MAN) EI0208 12:50:00
Dublin (DUB), Munich (MUC), Germany EI0356 16:25:00
Dublin (DUB), New York (JFK), New York, USA EI0105 11:05:00
Dublin (DUB), Paris (CDG), France EI0526 13:00:00
29 June
Dublin (DUB), Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands EI0610 18:15:00
Dublin (DUB), Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany EI0332 06:40:00
Dublin (DUB), Geneva (GVA), Switzerland EI0680 06:15:00
Dublin (DUB), Hamburg (HAM), Germany EI0392 10:15:00
Dublin (DUB), Lyon (LYS), France EI0552 12:55:00
Dublin (DUB), Manchester (MAN) EI0202 06:30:00
Dublin (DUB), New York (JFK), New York, USA EI0105 11:05:00
Dublin (DUB), Paris (CDG), France EI0528 18:20:00
Dublin (DUB), Rome/DaVinci (FCO), Italy EI0404 10:25:00
30 June
Cork (ORK), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0724 20:30:00
Dublin (DUB), Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany EI0332 06:40:00
Dublin (DUB), Birmingham (BHX) EI0276 19:20:00
Dublin (DUB), Brussels (BRU), Belgium EI0638 17:55:00
Dublin (DUB), Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany EI0698 17:30:00
Dublin (DUB), Frankfurt (FRA), Germany EI0656 16:45:00
Dublin (DUB), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0168 14:30:00
Dublin (DUB), London/Heathrow (LHR) EI0182 19:00:00
Dublin (DUB), Lyon (LYS), France EI0550 06:15:00
Dublin (DUB), Manchester (MAN) EI0208 12:50:00
Dublin (DUB), Munich (MUC), Germany EI0356 16:25:00
Dublin (DUB), New York (JFK), New York, USA EI0105 11:05:00
Dublin (DUB), Paris (CDG), France EI0526 13:00:00

Flights departing UK
26 June
Birmingham (BHX) Dublin (DUB), EI0277 20:50:00
London/Heathrow (LHR) Cork (ORK), EI0725 22:25:00
London/Heathrow (LHR) Dublin (DUB), EI0167 15:50:00
London/Heathrow (LHR) Dublin (DUB), EI0183 21:10:00
Manchester (MAN) Dublin (DUB), EI0209 14:25:00
27 June
Birmingham (BHX) Dublin (DUB), EI0277 20:50:00
London/Heathrow (LHR) Cork (ORK), EI0725 22:25:00
London/Heathrow (LHR) Dublin (DUB), EI0165 14:20:00
London/Heathrow (LHR) Dublin (DUB), EI0183 21:10:00
Manchester (MAN) Dublin (DUB), EI0209 14:25:00
28 June
(BHX) Dublin (DUB), EI0277 20:50:00
(LHR) Cork (ORK), EI0725 22:25:00
(LHR) Dublin (DUB), EI0165 14:20:00
(LHR) Dublin (DUB), EI0183 21:10:00
(MAN) Dublin (DUB), EI0209 14:25:00
29 June
London/Heathrow (LHR) Dublin (DUB), EI0159 12:00:00
Manchester (MAN) Dublin (DUB), EI0203 08:10:00
30 June
Birmingham (BHX) Dublin (DUB), EI0277 20:50:00
London/Heathrow (LHR) Cork (ORK), EI0725 22:25:00
London/Heathrow (LHR) Dublin (DUB), EI0169 16:50:00
London/Heathrow (LHR) Dublin (DUB), EI0183 21:10:00
Manchester (MAN) Dublin (DUB), EI0209 14:25:00

Flights departing Europe
26 June
Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands Dublin (DUB), EI0603 09:35:00
Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0333 10:40:00
Brussels (BRU), Belgium Dublin (DUB), EI0639 21:20:00
Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0699 21:05:00
Frankfurt (FRA), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0657 20:40:00
Munich (MUC), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0357 20:30:00
Paris (CDG), France Dublin (DUB), EI0527 16:30:00
27 June
Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands Dublin (DUB), EI0609 17:00:00
Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0333 10:40:00
Brussels (BRU), Belgium Dublin (DUB), EI0639 21:25:00
Geneva (GVA), Switzerland Dublin (DUB), EI0681 10:15:00
Paris (CDG), France Dublin (DUB), EI0529 21:50:00
Rome/DaVinci (FCO), Italy Dublin (DUB), EI0405 15:20:00
Vienna (VIE), Austria Dublin (DUB), EI0661 10:40:00
28 June
Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands Dublin (DUB), EI0603 09:35:00
Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0333 10:40:00
Brussels (BRU), Belgium Dublin (DUB), EI0639 21:25:00
Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0699 21:05:00
Frankfurt (FRA), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0657 20:40:00
Munich (MUC), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0357 20:30:00
Paris (CDG), France Dublin (DUB), EI0527 16:30:00
29 June
Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands Dublin (DUB), EI0611 21:40:00
Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0333 10:40:00
Geneva (GVA), Switzerland Dublin (DUB), EI0681 10:15:00
Hamburg (HAM), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0393 14:00:00
Lyon (LYS), France Dublin (DUB), EI0553 16:50:00
Paris (CDG), France Dublin (DUB), EI0529 21:50:00
Rome/DaVinci (FCO), Italy Dublin (DUB), EI0405 15:20:00
30 June
Berlin/Brandenburg (BER), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0333 10:40:00
Brussels (BRU), Belgium Dublin (DUB), EI0639 21:20:00
Dusseldorf (DUS), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0699 21:05:00
Frankfurt (FRA), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0657 20:40:00
Lyon (LYS), France Dublin (DUB), EI0551 10:10:00
Munich (MUC), Germany Dublin (DUB), EI0357 20:30:00
Paris (CDG), France Dublin (DUB), EI0527 16:30:00

Flights departing North America
26-Jun-24 New York (JFK), New York, USA Dublin (DUB), EI0104 16:55:00
27-Jun-24 New York (JFK), New York, USA Dublin (DUB), EI0104 16:55:00
28-Jun-24 New York (JFK), New York, USA Dublin (DUB), EI0104 16:55:00
29-Jun-24 New York (JFK), New York, USA Dublin (DUB), EI0104 16:55:00
30-Jun-24 New York (JFK), New York, USA Dublin (DUB), EI0104 16:55:00

With reporting by Eoghan Dalton and David Mac Redmond