Aer Lingus says it will review the Irish Labour Court's final recommendation that pilots should receive a 17.75% pay increase.
“Aer Lingus will carefully review the final recommendation of the Labour Court," the airline said in a brief statement on Monday.
“The company will confirm its position following completion of that review.”
The recommendation was reportedly handed down at around lunchtime on Monday. Both Aer Lingus and the Irish Pilots Association (IALPA) met with the Labour Court last week.
The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (IALPA) commenced work-to-rule industrial action on June 26, as well as an eight-hour pilot's strike on June 29, as part of an ongoing pay dispute with Aer Lingus.
The industrial action has prompted Aer Lingus to cancel more than 500 flights; the latest round of flight cancelations was announced on Saturday.
IALPA is seeking a pay rise of nearly 24% to take account of inflation since their last wage increase in 2019. Aer Lingus, however, says it cannot go beyond the 12.5% increase agreed upon with cabin and ground grews without greater productivity from pilots.
Representatives from both parties have met with the Labour Court over the past two weeks in an effort to end the dispute and industrial action.
According to RTÉ News, the Labour Court's recommendation to increase pilots' pay by 17.75% covers a four-year period from January 1, 2023, to the end of December 2026.
The court recommended that agreed 2022 pay scales be terminated on the date of acceptance of the recommendation and that pilots should revert to a single scale from that date.
It also said that the elimination of elements of a 'debt' owed by pilots should stand, notwithstanding the termination of the 2022 scales.
The Labour Court also recommended that an overnight allowance to be increased by 10% with effect from the date of acceptance of the recommendation and a further 5% with effect from October 1, 2025.
The decision is not binding and it will be put to a ballot of members of IALPA.
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