Aer Lingus has taken a dispute with a suspended pilot to mediation. The High Court heard the case involving Captain Ian Blair from the closed Manchester base. Parties agreed to mediation on Thursday after an earlier hearing date.
Captain Ian Blair sought an order to attend a retraining course in Dublin for pilots transferred from Manchester. He faced disciplinary proceedings by Aer Lingus Manchester and remained on suspension. He claimed the disciplinary process ended in January while the airline maintained the suspension under UK procedures.
The suspension began in November over a complaint about cabin crew seating on a positioning flight from Barbados to Manchester. No passengers travelled on that flight. Mr Blair brought proceedings against Aer Lingus Ltd and Aer Lingus Manchester earlier this month. His barrister Cathy Smith SC informed the court that the Friday hearing could be vacated.
