Aer Lingus strike vote prompts disruption warning from Irish agents body
James ChappleThe body representing Ireland’s travel agents has warned of disruption after Aer Lingus pilots voted overwhelmingly for industrial action this summer in a dispute with owner IAG over pay.
Aer Lingus members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) have voted 98% in favour of industrial action, which includes action up to and including a full walkout.
Despite the vote, no action is yet formally planned, and talks were ongoing on Wednesday (12 June) to resolve the dispute. Ialpa would have to give a week’s notice of any plans to strike.
Ialpa’s president captain Mark Tighe said the result of the ballot "showed the resolve and determination" of its members "to get a fair share of the large profits Aer Lingus is making".
According to reports in the Irish press, Aer Lingus is preparing to carry up to around 40,000 passengers a day this summer on domestic routes, as well as routes to Europe, the US and Canada.
Donal Moriarty, Aer Lingus’s chief corporate affairs officer, said that if the action was to go ahead, it was "inevitable" there would be a severe impact for passengers with "large numbers of flight cancellations".
While the action is limited to pilots employed in Ireland, Aer Lingus has a large UK operation based out of Heathrow and Manchester, including a significant transatlantic schedule for the summer.
Angela Walsh, president of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), has called for a resolution to avoid "any disruptive strike action".
"Any pilots strike over the summer months will cause serious impact for both holidaymakers and corporate travellers, as we are in the busiest travel period of the year, with knock on effects on accommodation reservations and connecting travel," said Walsh.
"Travel agents are on the front line when strikes, cancellations and other disruptions occur, and are the first port of call for customers.
"While we are always happy to minimise all disruption for our customers, we urge the airline and greater travel industry to put the consumer first in an effort to avoid such disruption to travel plans."
Walsh added: "Those who have booked with a travel agent can contact their agent in the case that any strike is confirmed and we will work to rearrange travel plans to the best of our abilities."
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