Madam, - How depressing it is to see Aer Lingus pilots playing the union card again. They appear to be locked into the industrial relations practices of a bygone era.
They play the innocent victims rather well, constantly opposing change but always "ready to meet the company" for endless talks. Their non-co-operation with the company's Belfast operation appears to be based on their assumption that the company has to have a defined benefit scheme in place for employees in that jurisdiction.
Defined benefits for new employees in private companies is a thing of the past. The pilots should appreciate what they have on their own turf and stop trying to impose outdated terms and conditions on new ventures.
They should grow up, show some pride in the uniform they wear and stop acting like overpaid prima donnas. This is the real world where we compete, pay our way, or go to the wall. Cherry-picking is not an option. - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'GRADY, Kilahora, Glounthaune, Co Cork.
Madam, - Much is being made of the reported low percentage of through passengers on the Shannon-Heathrow route. Some claim that as few as 30 per cent use Heathrow as a connection point.
It is curious that this information is available so readily. Nowadays many people book sequential flights on separate tickets and it is not immediately obvious how such travellers can be accurately counted. It could hardly be that those citing the low connection figures are merely ignoring such passengers in an effort to bolster their arguments? - Yours, etc,
Prof KEVIN RYAN, Castletroy Heights, Limerick.
Madam, - Tony Kinnane, chair of the Shannon Action Group (October 5th), signalled a solution to the long-running dispute over the Shannon-Heathrow service: "The solution is simple. Retain connectivity. Retain Aer Lingus."
Mr Kinnane is right. Indeed, his solution was echoed by Minister of State Tony Killeen, one of Co Clare's Fianna Fáil TDs, who recently urged Aer Lingus to keep its Shannon-Heathrow service (with three slots) and to operate its Belfast-Heathrow service (with one slot).
Sadly, Mr Killeen seems to have quietly dropped this proposal. However, it now seems most important for all the parties to run with it. It is the win-win solution.
Shannon keeps its vital Heathrow service; the Belfast-Heathrow service can start; and Aer Lingus and the Government would emerge from this fiasco without too much more egg on their faces. - Yours, etc,
MAX MADDEN, John Street, Kilrush, Co Clare.