Aer Lingus unions are due to complete their ballots on the company's survival plan by the end of next week. IMPACT is expected to conclude its ballot by Friday, December 21st and SIPTU, by Wednesday, December 19th. SIPTU had originally intended to close the ballot today, but its national industrial secretary, Mr Noel Dowling, said the union has extended it at the request of members until the 19th to facilitate a maximum turnout.

A further ballot will be held by SIPTU on the employee share option plan (ESOP) when details are finalised. "I'm satisfied we pushed the Government on the ESOP as far as it could go," Mr Dowling said. But because the Government was proposing to amend the Labour Relations proposals - on which members were currently voting - it would be necessary to ballot them again.