The dispute over pay between Aer Lingus management and pilots moves to the Labour Court today.
Previous talks at Workplace Relations Commission in February ended without agreement with IALPA seeking pay increases higher than recommendations of independent pilot pay tribunal.
Aer Lingus has warned that IALPA’s stance risks investment, growth, and jobs, may impact allocation of new aircraft by parent company IAG, including the new A321XLR.
IALPA is seeking pay increases of either 24pc (according to the union) or 27pc (according to the airline) which IALPA says will 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.”
