Aer Lingus has confirmed it will not be the launch customer for the new A321XLR from Airbus due to a pilot pay dispute.
The first aircraft, MSN Line 11348 already had its tail painted in the Aer Lingus livery. It will be re-allocated within the IAG group.
The airline is reconsidering its short-term transatlantic growth plans and will likely postpone up to three new planned destinations.
The dispute over pilot pay has delayed the delivery of the A321XLR, impacting Aer Lingus’s plans to use the aircraft on its Dublin-Minneapolis Saint Paul service. The 4w service resumed on Monday after a four year hiatus, using an A330.
The airline’s pilot requirements will decrease due to the delay in receiving the A321XLR, with ongoing negotiations regarding pilot pay issues currently taking place at the Labour Court. And extra 80 pilots were required under the growth plans. Command requirement will be reduced by 40.
IALPA are demanding 20pc pay rise an additional 7pc covering the cost by pilots of a 2019 crewing agreement. The 12.25pc proposed by the carrier included 3.75pc to pay for that crewing agreement.
IAG ordered 14 A321XLR aircraft in 2019, of which Aer Lingus was due to receive six. See photographs by Marcel Klein here: https://aviation.flights/aib/A320/11348
