- Aer Lingus pilot Ian Blair has sought a High Court order for a retraining course.
- The pilot has faced suspension from the closed Manchester base.
- The case has involved a positioning flight from Barbados to Manchester.
- Cabin crew have sat in economy class on the empty flight.
- The disciplinary investigation has concluded in January 2026.
Aer Lingus pilot Ian Blair has sought a High Court order to allow him to sit a retraining course in Dublin next week. The pilot has faced suspension from the airline’s recently closed Manchester base. The retraining course has been scheduled for pilots transferred to Dublin.
Mr Blair has claimed he was rostered for the course but was later told it was an error. The airline has maintained he was on sick leave at the time while he has disputed this. The suspension has remained in place following an investigation into a complaint from a positioning flight from Barbados to Manchester.
Cabin crew on the empty positioning flight have sat in economy rather than business class on Mr Blair’s instruction. Industrial action by cabin crew in Manchester has occurred at the time though the crew on the flight have not participated. The disciplinary investigation has concluded in January 2026.
Cathy Smith SC shared “He was told he was rostered for the training and then told he was rostered in error.”
Mairéad McKenna SC shared “He is employed by the Manchester company and is suspended as per his English contract.”
