Aer Lingus has announced the cancellation of at least 244 flights next week due to industrial action by its pilots, with the potential for more disruptions. Nearly half of these cancellations were scheduled for Saturday, impacting approximately 15,000 passengers due to an eight-hour strike planned for that day.
This comes on top of 124 flights already grounded following a work-to-rule decision by pilots affiliated with the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA).
Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin have urged both parties to resolve the dispute promptly.
However, Captain Mark Tighe, president of IALPA, stated that the pilots had no choice but to escalate the situation due to “a campaign of antagonism by Aer Lingus management.”
Aer Lingus released a statement today, attributing the chaos to the union’s actions. The airline specified that 120 flights on June 29 would be cancelled due to the announced strike, affecting 15,000 customers on short-haul services. The airline has adjusted the timing of long-haul services on June 28 and 29 to avoid cancellations.
The airline is rebooking some customers onto alternative flights. It has begun notifying all affected passengers via email, offering them options to change their flight for free, request a refund, or obtain a voucher.
Details of the cancelled flights on June 29 are available on the Aer Lingus website. The airline clarified that Aer Lingus Regional flights operated by Emerald Airlines would not be affected by the industrial action and would operate as scheduled.
The industrial action has disrupted holiday plans for thousands of passengers. Starting Wednesday, 124 flights will be cancelled over five days due to the work-to-rule action.
Affected routes include services from Cork and Dublin to London Heathrow and flights from Dublin to various destinations, including Paris, Amsterdam, Lyon, Berlin, Birmingham, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Rome, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Manchester, Munich, Vienna, and JFK airport in New York.
The all-out strike is scheduled for Saturday, June 29, from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., during a peak travel period for summer holidays. An Aer Lingus spokesman criticized IALPA’s decision, stating it was “clearly designed to inflict maximum damage on passengers’ travel plans at the peak of the holiday season.” The airline has not ruled out further cancellations in the coming days.
The strike has caused significant distress, including for a bride-to-be, Debbie Morone, whose wedding plans are jeopardized. Debbie and her fiancé, Andy Neary, are set to fly to Rome with 19 friends and family members for their wedding in Tuscany.
Debbie expressed frustration, stating that despite reassurances from Aer Lingus, they have been left in limbo with no clear answers.
Debbie described their attempt to get information at the airport, only to be offered a refund or a flight change that would miss their wedding events.
She stressed the importance of getting to their destination: “Every penny we have and everything we’ve saved over the last few years has gone into this. There is no contingency plan for us. This is it.”
Speaking to the Irish Sun, Debbie expressed concern about the financial impact of the flight cancellations, revealing that the situation has left them stressed and uncertain.
The couple is desperate for a solution, emphasizing the need to make it to their wedding on time.
As the dispute between Aer Lingus and its pilots continues, passengers must stay updated through the airline’s communications and prepare for potential travel disruptions in the coming week.
