Aer Lingus cancels 80 more flights amid pay row

Aer Lingus has announced the cancellation of 80 more flights due to an ongoing pay dispute with its pilots. The airline stated that these cancellations, scheduled between 11 July and 14 July, are necessary to protect as many services as possible. Passengers affected by these cancellations will be contacted by the airline regarding refund and rebooking options. The pilots, represented by the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (Ialpa), began their indefinite work-to-rule protest on 26 June. This means they are not working overtime or performing any additional duties outside their regular hours. The dispute has already resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations, disrupting the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers. Initially, the pilots demanded a 24% pay increase, arguing that their salaries have not kept pace with high inflation levels since their last pay raise in 2019. However, Aer Lingus is reportedly seeking changes to the pilots' working conditions before agreeing to any pay rise above 12. 25%. Last week, the Labour Court attempted to mediate the dispute, but the talks broke down without reaching an agreement. Ialpa stated that it had offered to reduce its pay demand but accused the company of failing to reciprocate. Last Friday, the Labour Court issued a fresh invitation to both parties to attend a meeting on Monday. Representatives from Aer Lingus and Ialpa attended the meeting, which lasted more than eight hours, and are now awaiting a recommendation from the court. The court has requested that there be no escalation of the dispute, but the current work-to-rule by Ialpa members remains in place. If your Aer Lingus flight is cancelled, the airline has said that affected customers will be given the option to change their flights for free. They will also be able to claim a refund or a voucher. These options will be communicated directly to impacted customers. 'Aer Lingus fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers, given the uncertainty caused by Ialpa's industrial action, and is giving impacted customers as many options as possible,' the airline said. Further details of the services impacted are set out on the airline's website. Aer Lingus pilots have been protesting in Dublin over their pay. There are two male pilots in the foreground, wearing their caps and holding placards, with three pilots in the background. A number of striking Aer Lingus pilots are standing outside Dublin airport holding placards.