Alex McCurthy
Aer Lingus has announced the cancellation of 120 flights scheduled for next weekend due to an eight-hour strike by pilots on June 29. This disruption is expected to impact approximately 15,000 customers on short-haul services.
The airline’s spokesperson confirmed the strike action, stating that the pilots’ union has planned a work-to-rule starting June 26, which would mean pilots would not engage in overtime or out-of-hours duties. This action alone has led to the cancellation of 124 flights, affecting about 20,000 customers over five days.
The planned strike by the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) is set to take place from 5 am to 1 pm on June 29. An Aer Lingus spokesperson said, “Following Ialpa’s escalation of the industrial action by announcing an eight-hour strike by pilots on Saturday June 29, Aer Lingus has had to cancel 120 flights on that day.” The airline is retiming long-haul services on June 28 and 29 to avoid cancellations of these flights.
Aer Lingus has started rebooking some customers onto alternative flights and has begun emailing others to inform them of the cancellations and their options, including changing their flight for free, requesting a refund, or obtaining a voucher. The detailed list of canceled flights on June 29 is available on the ‘Travel Advisory’ section of the Aer Lingus website.
Flights operated by Aer Lingus Regional, run by Emerald Airlines, are not affected by Ialpa’s industrial action and will operate as scheduled. These flights are numbered between EI3000 and EI3999.
Ialpa claims it was forced to escalate the dispute following what it describes as “a campaign of antagonism by Aer Lingus management.” The union’s president, Captain Mark Tighe, mentioned that the airline had sent “threatening” letters to association members. He emphasized the significant impact of the strike, indicating the extent to which Aer Lingus relies on the flexibility and goodwill of its pilots.
Aer Lingus has condemned the strike action, expressing disappointment that Ialpa would escalate the dispute, which it believes is intended to inflict maximum disruption on passengers’ travel plans. The airline describes the union’s demand for a 24% pay increase as unrealistic, noting that no pay deals in Ireland have delivered such an increase.
Irish Premier Simon Harris has called for a de-escalation of the dispute, urging all parties to “step back from the brink.”
List of Affected Flights:
Flights departing Ireland:
- Wednesday, June 26th: Various flights from Cork and Dublin to destinations including London, Amsterdam, Berlin, and New York.
- Thursday, June 27th: Similar routes affected, including additional flights to Geneva and Vienna.
- Friday, June 28th: Continued disruptions on routes to multiple European destinations and New York.
- Saturday, June 29th: Extensive cancellations including flights to Dubrovnik, Lanzarote, London, and various other European cities.
- Sunday, June 30th: Further cancellations on routes to London, Berlin, Brussels, and others.
Flights departing the UK:
- Wednesday, June 26th: Flights from Birmingham, London, and Manchester to Dublin.
- Thursday, June 27th – Sunday, June 30th: Continued disruptions on similar routes.
Flights departing Europe:
- Wednesday, June 26th: Flights from Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, and Paris to Dublin.
- Thursday, June 27th – Sunday, June 30th: Additional disruptions across various European destinations.
Flights departing North America:
- Wednesday, June 26th – Sunday, June 30th: New York (JFK) to Dublin.
Passengers are advised to check the Aer Lingus website for the most up-to-date information and to contact the airline for assistance with rebooking or refunds.
