Aer Lingus is unlikely to receive new aircraft, possibly including the right to be the first customer of the A321XLR, due to a deadlock in talks between the airline and the Irish Airline Pilot’s Association.
IALPA is seeking pay increases of 24pc, according to the union, of 27pc, according to the airline, to align with inflation and industry standards.
IALPA’s pay proposal includes a 20pc pay rise and the additional 7pc covering the cost by pilots of a 2019 crewing agreement. The 12.25pc proposed by the carrier included a 3.75pc to pay for that crewing agreement.
Talks to resolve the pay dispute by the end of the month failed, leading Aer Lingus to anticipate going to the Labour Court on April 22nd. That followed failed efforts to reach agreement at the Workplace Relations Commission and bilateral talks since that breakdown.
Luis Gallego, chief executive of IAG recently warned that the group would slow down expansion of Aer Lingus until the dispute was resolved. Aer Lingus had anticipated receiving two A321XLR in the final quarter of this year. Mr Gallego said in February that without a pilot pay agreement at the airline, those aircraft might now be deployed within the group’s other subsidiaries, which include British Airways, Iberia and Vueling.
The first of six A321XLR on order is already painted in the Aer Lingus colours and due to launch on trans-Atlantic routes in the autumn. Aer Lingus said earlier this month that the six aircraft would create 80 extra pilots’ jobs.
The airline warned pilots in a letter earlier last month that the potential loss of the planned A321XLR aircraft scheduled for delivery to Aer Lingus this year would immediately reduce its pilot requirement by 80 and its command requirement by 40 and would also have “a cascading effect on all other associated staff groups.”
A written statement from Aer Lingus said: “The discussions concluded without agreement. Ialpa continued to demand pay increases for pilots that are significantly higher than the 12.25pc increase in consolidated pay and 1.5pc of unconsolidated pay that had been recommended by the independent Pilot Pay Tribunal in its report in December 2023. Given the tight lead times, it now looks unlikely that the inaugural A321XLR aircraft delivery can be allocated to Aer Lingus, with decisions on the remaining XLRs being required in the coming months. Aer Lingus is now assessing the implications of this for future jobs and investment in the business.”
