Full service of Aer Lingus flights resume after end of industrial action

Aer Lingus is resuming a full service of flights from this Wednesday morning, July 17.

The airline had cancelled 610 flights over the last three weeks during industrial action by pilots seeking a pay raise.

Up to 573 of the cancellations were pre-planned, with a further 37 'on the day' cancellations during the industrial action by the pilots union the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA).

The IALPA suspended their work-to-rule action last week and recommended its members accept recommendations from the Labour Court aimed at resolving the dispute over pay with the airline.

A 17.75% pay increase for pilots over a four-year period is among the Labour Court recommendations.

Although the industrial action was suspended last Wednesday night, Aer Lingus had already cancelled flights up until Tuesday, a move which it said could not be reversed.

Today is the first day of full service since the work-to-rule began on 26 June, with up to 82,000 passengers impacted over the three weeks of action.

As well as pay increases, the Labour Court recommendation also proposes the ending of 2022 pay scales, the scrapping of a crewing agreement on rostering and summer leave, and the termination of a debt owed by pilots to the company as part of that agreement.

The IALPA are currently holding meetings with members to discuss the recommendations and will open a ballot of pilots tomorrow, set close on Tuesday July 23.