LAST UPDATE | 13 Jul 2022

AER LINGUS’ REFUSAL to appear before an Oireachtas Committee is “unacceptable”, according to Transport Committee chairman Kieran O’Donnell. 

Speaking today, he said the invitation to attend next Wednesday’s meeting would be reissued to the airline and the committee expects executives to appear before it. 

O’Donnell said despite repeated requests, chief executive of Aer Lingus Lynne Embleton has refused the invitation to attend a hearing to discuss problems with flight cancellations, delays and baggage handling issues.

He said committee members have received “countless queries and complaints” about flight and baggage issues, stating that it is only right that Aer Lingus would come before the committee next week to explain what its current position is.

Individual members of the committee also spoke of their “disappointment” that Aer Lingus had refused to attend.

Senator Jerry Buttimer said it was “not acceptable” that the committee was being held “in contempt” by the airline.

He said it is “incredible” that Aer Lingus, which was responsible for 100 flight cancellations last week, would refuse to appear before the committee.

Buttimer said that they must appear before the August weekend.

“It is their moral duty to come before us,” said Labour’s transport spokesperson Duncan Smyth.

The comments come as Transport Minister Eamon Ryan is set to meet with airlines today and tomorrow over ongoing issues around baggage handling at Dublin Airport.

In recent weeks, there have been issues with baggage handling with some airlines, including Aer Lingus, leading to luggage going missing or arriving several days after passengers had arrived at their destination.

Speaking to reporters this morning, Ryan said that he will be engaging with both Ryanair and Aer Lingus.

“I’m meeting Ryanair today and Aer Lingus tomorrow,” said Ryan.

He added that the Defence Forces are remaining on standby to assist Dublin Airport, but hopes that they will not be needed.

“It’s [Defence Forces] only to be brought in in an event of the Covid numbers seeing the airport not able to meet its needs,” said Ryan.

It’s very interesting today, Heathrow is cutting capacity. We face that choice, we had a choice: do you cut capacity, or do you try and look at other ways of making sure we keep things working.

“We took that second route, including having the Defence Forces on standby. I’m very glad they’re there. They’re able to provide that support for the next month. Please God we won’t need them.”

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Aer Lingus said in a statement this evening that it offered to attend a committee meeting at a later date.

“Aer Lingus advised the Transport and Communications Committee Chairman that representatives were unable to attend a Committee Meeting next week due to  unavoidable existing commitments.

“Aer Lingus offered to attend a Committee meeting at a later date and to answer in writing any specific questions that the Committee had in advance of that meeting,” the airline said.

Previously, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said that baggage handling was outside its remit and that it is an ongoing issue across Europe, the US and Canada.

“Whereas issues relating to flight cancellations and delayed, or lost, luggage are outside DAA’s remit, we empathise with those affected and regret the impact this is having on their passenger experience,” it said.

The DAA also said that it was liaising with airlines on the issue.

With reporting by Christina Finn