Aer Lingus announced today, Tuesday, June 25, that it is canceling more flights next week in light of the Irish Airline Pilots Association's (IALPA) industrial action.
“In order to continue to protect as many services as possible from the impact of IALPA’s continuing industrial action, Aer Lingus has had to take the step of canceling 50 additional flights over the course of Monday 1st July and Tuesday 2nd July," the airline said in a statement on Tuesday.
For Monday, July 1, 26 Aer Lingus flights have been canceled: 13 flights departing from Ireland, five from the UK, three from Germany, one from The Netherlands, one from Belgium, one from France, one from Switzerland, and one from New York - JFK.
For Tuesday, July 2, 24 Aer Lingus flights have been canceled: 12 flights departing from Ireland, five from the UK, three from France, one from Germany, one from The Netherlands, one from Switzerland, and one from New York - JFK.
"Implementing these cancellations is to enable us to protect as many services as possible for as many of our customers as possible," the Irish airline said in its statement on Tuesday.
"These cancellations will be implemented today and details will be communicated to impacted customers. Details of the services impacted are set out on Travel Advisory page of AerLingus.com."
Aer Lingus said it is continuing to offer a number of offers to customers who may be impacted by IALPA's industrial action which begins tomorrow, Wednesday, June 26.
The airline said that customers scheduled to travel between June 26 and July 2 will continue to be given the option to change their flights for free.
They will also be able to cancel their flight and claim a refund or voucher.
Aer Lingus said these options will be communicated directly to impacted customer as well as their travel agent, while the Aer Lingus ‘Travel Advisory’ page will also have up-to-the-minute information on all the options.
The airline said: "Aer Lingus fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers given the uncertainty caused by IALPA’s industrial action and is giving customers as many options as possible, should they wish to change their plans."
The announcement about next week's flight cancellations comes the day before IALPA commences its indefinite 'work-to-rule' industrial action. IALPA will additionally undertake a pilots' strike from 5 am to 1 pm Irish time this Saturday, June 29.
Aer Lingus executives attended the Labour Court on Tuesday morning, while members of IALPA and its umbrella union Fórsa attended later in the day.
A spokesperson for Aer Lingus said later on Tuesday that the airline is "disappointed" that following the meetings, the Labour Court's "assessment is that it is unable to assist in the dispute at this time."
“Aer Lingus has made it clear that it remains available for discussions both directly and through the State’s industrial relations framework.
“Aer Lingus will continue to focus on minimising the disruption caused to customers by IALPA’s industrial action.
“Aer Lingus is calling upon Fórsa / IALPA to consider the damage that its continued industrial action is inflicting upon passengers, the company, and the Irish economy."
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