Aer Lingus flights will be grounded for a second day this week disrupting more than 40,000 passengers after the company announced it would be unable to recommence services this Friday with no clear date set for a resumption of flights.
"As a result of strike action by pilots on Thursday 30th May and their ongoing refusal to co-operate with the full implementation of the Survival Plan, Aer Lingus will not be in a position to recommence operations on Friday 31st May. This position will be kept under review on a daily basis," the company said this evening.
The company also warned that the decision to operate on Saturday June 1st remains under review. Seats are not being sold on flights between Saturday 1st June and Wednesday 5th June, because the company is not confident it can offer a service. However, the company hoped to able to resume services from Thursday June 6th.
The company said it regretted having to cancel Friday’s flights but said it was in no position to recommence flights following the one-day pilots’ strike. The company will lose more than €2 million for each day its flights are grounded.
With no talks between union and management scheduled Thursday’s planned one-day strike looks certain to go ahead.
A spokeswoman said the company was deeply disturbed at an IMPACT statement that the union representing Aer Lingus pilots fails to see the relevance of the Aer Lingus Survival Plan.
She said that just over 20 flights would operate Dublin-London routes on Thursday because the company had hired a number of charter aircraft. However, due to the Bank Holiday this weekend, this option is not available to the company on Friday. Between 160 and 180 flights will be cancelled each day.
People due to leave for the World Cup on Thursday have had their flights rearranged for tomorrow.
IMPACT's assistant general secretary Mr Michael Landers, last night told The Irish Times: "Two weeks ago IMPACT made itself available for talks, which could have avoided a dispute. The only response from Aer Lingus was the suspension of pilots without pay, which triggered the strike notice. Now they are threatening to close the airline rather than talk to pilots".
Aer Lingus employs 537 pilots with 86 due to leave under the restructuring plan.
The company said it would issue updates on its operating plans but stressed it was still facing the threat of further action on behalf of pilots.
The Aer Lingus board will discuss the operating plans of the company at a meeting this Thursday.
People due to fly on Thursday are advised to contact their travel agent or call the Aer Lingus helpline on 1800 222221. For passengers booked on Friday’s flights the Aer Lingus helpline is 0818 365000.
If calling from Britain, the number is 0845 0844444, and in America it is 1-800-IRISH-AIR.
