Aer Lingus accepts pilots pay recommendation

Aer Lingus has accepted a Labour Court recommendation to increase pilots' pay by 17.75% amid a dispute which has seen the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

The recommendation of the Labour Court must now also be considered by the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (Ialpa).

In a statement, Aer Lingus said it would have to consider "the longer-term implications of implementing the recommendation".

It also said the industrial relations dispute has been "enormously damaging both financially and reputationally".

It added: "Aer Lingus encourages Forsa/Ialpa and pilots to accept the recommendation of the Labour Court and end their industrial action.

"We would like to thank the Labour Court for its work in issuing both its interim and final recommendations."

The proposal follows meetings at the Labour Court involving representatives from Aer Lingus and Ialpa.

If agreed, the pay deal would cover a four-year period from January 1 2023 to the end of 2026.

Ialpa, a branch of the Forsa trade union, said it would continue its work-to-rule action while it seeks clarifications form the Labour Court on some elements of its recommendations.

It said its executive would convene a meeting within 24 hours and that a ballot will then be prepared for members.

Ialpa president Captain Mark Tighe said: "In advance of preparations for a ballot - and during which the current work-to-rule is set to continue - the union will ensure pilots are fully apprised of the details of the Labour Court's recommendation.

"Pilots will have the opportunity to consider its terms and to carefully consider our next steps. This has been an exceptionally complex dispute, reflected in the Court's decision last week to utilise its legislative powers to investigate the matters in dispute.

"Several of our executive officers are on flight duty today, so we're currently preparing for the full executive to meet within the next 24 hours."

The pilots had initially been seeking a pay increase of 24%, which they say equates to inflation since the last pay rise in 2019.

However, Ialpa later said that it would be willing to consider a lower pay increase.

Aer Lingus has cancelled hundreds of flights during the pilots' indefinite work-to-rule, which began at the end of June, in an effort to protect services from the "highly disruptive" industrial action.

The Irish Travel Agents Association urged pilots to accept the terms of the recommendation.

Clare Dunne, chief executive of the ITAA, said: "Disputes all end sooner or later - it is within their power to end it now."