End of flight cancellations in sight as Aer Lingus pilots set to accept pay deal

There was relief for holidaymakers as it emerged overnight that Aer Lingus pilots will be asked to accept a 17.75 per cent pay increase in a ballot, after a recommendation by their representative body.

It comes after a work-to-rule, which began at the end of June, resulted in the airline cancelling hundreds of flights.

Ialpa has said it will “move immediately” to suspend an ongoing work to rule that had led to the cancellation of hundreds of Aer Lingus flights.

This came as Ialpa’s executive has tonight voted to recommend Aer Lingus pilots accept the Labour Court recommendation that could end a dispute at Aer Lingus.

The Labour Court recommended the 17.75 per cent pay rise for the pilots.

IALPA president Mark Tighe described the pay increase provided for in the Labour Court’s recommendation as a significant win for pilots.

Ialpa’s executive met tonight and passed a motion to recommend acceptance of the court’s recommendation.

“Following the communication from the Labour Court today (Wednesday) and further clarification from Aer Lingus, Ialpa has met and passed a motion to recommend acceptance of the Labour Court’s recommendation,” said a statement.

The union will hold a series of engagements with members before a ballot on the terms of the Labour Court recommendation in the coming week.

Ialpa president Mark Tighe described the pay increase provided for in the recommendation as a significant win for pilots.

Aer Lingus welcomed Ialpa’s recommendation to its members to accept the deal, as well as the decision to discontinue industrial action.

It said: ‘We look forward to Ialpa completing the balloting process as soon as possible.’

Earlier, Aer Lingus cancelled 25 more flights next Monday and Tuesday and said it would contact affected customers.

It also said more cancellations would be announced on Thursday.

The pilots had initially sought a pay increase of 24%, which they said equated to inflation since the last pay rise in 2019.

They had previously rejected a Labour Court recommendation for pay increases of 9%, but Ialpa had suggested the union would consider a pay increase below the 24% figure.