Last-ditch talks between Aer Lingus bosses and pilots' representatives were continuing today in a bid to avert a 'lock-out' next week.
The airline has threatened to suspend all pilots on Tuesday if they refuse to train colleagues at a new hub in Belfast.
The talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) were attended by senior Aer Lingus management including chief executive Dermot Mannion and Impact union assistant general secretary Michael Landers representing the pilots.
LRC chief Kieran Mulvey said he hoped Aer Lingus and Impact were entering talks with the intention of settling the dispute.
"I hope both will engage positively to reach positive results for both employees and the airline," he commented.
The row centres on the pilots' refusal to train recruits for the airline's new Belfast hub, where Heathrow slots were controversially transferred from Shannon Airport in August.
A suspension of pilots could ground all flights until a resolution is found. Government Minister Dermot Ahern today defended the Cabinet's decision not to intervene to force a u-turn by Aer Lingus.
"The whole objective of the Government retaining a shareholding was to block the sale of the Heathrow slots.
"But there was never any rider on the ability Aer Lingus to re-allocate those slots within its own company and that is something that no shareholder should have the power to intervene in because it is based on the management's executive powers on day to day business.
"Ultimately, Irish people have benefited because they are now the recipients of probably the cheapest air travel in the world.
"Instead of having a state company with excessive work practices we now have the situation of Aer Lingus and Ryanair as well as other companies who want to come into the market to compete," the Minister for Foreign Affairs told RTE Radio.
Aer Lingus today said its position had not changed in relation to the Belfast hub and that the Tuesday deadline remained in place.