Aer Lingus job cuts plan criticised as ‘vague’ by cabin crew union

Aer Lingus seeks to cut 500 jobs across cabin crew, pilots and head office
Fórsa union described the redundancy plan as too vague for formal talks
Pilot negotiations collapsed after 12 minutes over European Works Council demands
Aer Lingus recorded a €34m first-half loss
The airline plans a 6 pc reduction in flight capacity

Fórsa, the trade union representing Aer Lingus cabin crew, has criticised the airline’s proposed 500-job redundancy plan as too vague to begin formal negotiations. Aer Lingus has been seeking to cut up to 500 jobs, including 70 pilots, 140 cabin crew and 290 head office posts, to reduce costs and meet margin targets set by owner International Airlines Group.

The union stated on 27 August that the airline has not provided enough clear information on affected posts, reasons for the cuts, measures to avoid losses or voluntary redundancy proposals to allow statutory consultations under Irish law to begin. Similar concerns were raised by pilots and head office staff over related European Works Council issues. Aer Lingus maintains it is following Irish legal requirements for a 30-day consultation process.

Talks with the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association collapsed after 12 minutes due to a separate dispute. Pilots demanded that IAG’s European Works Council be consulted first, a move that Aer Lingus dismissed as a stunt. Aer Lingus experienced a €34m loss in the first half of the year due to rising operational costs and stiff transatlantic competition, prompting a planned 6 pc reduction in flight capacity.

Fórsa shared the airline has not provided enough clear information on affected posts, reasons for the cuts, measures to avoid losses or voluntary redundancy proposals to allow statutory consultations under Irish law to begin. Aer Lingus spokesperson shared that the airline is following Irish legal requirements for a 30-day consultation process.