AER LINGUS chief executive Christoph Mueller has told staff that the cost-cutting plan that has been agreed in principle with 3,000 workers would provide a “sound basis for the future of the company”.

“We all can now move on together as a leaner, fitter company, in a better position to cope with tougher times in this difficult and challenging environment,” he added.

Mr Mueller’s comments were contained in a staff information notice issued yesterday.

He said employees would be briefed on the airline’s new strategy in the “coming weeks” through a series of staff information sessions.

Mr Mueller said the arbitration ruling given on January 8th by Kieran Mulvey, relating to its talks before Christmas with pilot representatives, provided a “platform for substantial savings to be realised”.

This was his first public comment on Mr Mulvey’s arbitration decision since the document was given to the company and Ialpa, the pilots’ trade union.

Mr Mulvey has identified €30 million in cost savings relating to pilots, including a 10 per cent pay cut and redundancies.

Aer Lingus is seeking to trim €97 million from its overheads annually and to reduce its total workforce by 676.

Mr Mueller thanked Mr Mulvey, who heads the Labour Relations Commission, for his work during the arbitration process and said that he had been “extremely meticulous” in addressing the issues involved.

Aer Lingus pilots are due to meet today to discuss Mr Mulvey’s findings.