Aer Lingus unions are planning protests at Cork and Shannon airports in their bid to block the privatisation of the national airline, it emerged today.
No Government deputies turned up at today's Siptu rally at Dublin Airport, organised to coincide with the 70th birthday of the carrier.
Siptu national organiser Michael Halpenny had issued an invitation to 11 Fianna Fail TDs in North Dublin to today's event to support the union in its campaign to block the sell-off of the airline.
But only four Opposition TDs, including Joe Costello, Roisin Shortall and Sean Ryan of Labour and Sean Crowe of Sinn Fein attended the march to the main terminal building at Dublin Airport.
Siptu, which represents the majority of Aer Lingus staff, today said it now plans protests at Cork and Shannon Airports to bring its campaign nationwide.
Branch secretary at Aer Lingus, Christy McQuillan said: "The General Election campaign has begun in earnest for Siptu and its members, and this will very definitely be a core campaigning issue in Dublin, Cork and Clare."
Siptu has also written to Opposition leader Enda Kenny requesting his support for its campaigns in constituencies in Co Cork and Co Clare.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dail last week that the Government was waiting for expert advice on when to trigger the controversial part-privatisation of Aer Lingus, and didn't rule out an autumn flotation.
Mr Halpenny today said there were many reasons why Aer Lingus should not be privatised.
Mr Halpenny said lessons should be learned from the recent disappointing privatisation of Air Berlin.
"The best that one can say about the Air Berlin flotation was that it got away because they had to dramatically discount the shares and they didn't realise the kind of money that they wanted so it really was quite a disaster," he added.
Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion said last Friday that the opening of new routes to the Middle East and privatisation marked the latest steps in the evolution of the company.
Mr Mannion said Aer Lingus has gone from strength to strength over the years, evolving from one route in 1936 to 79 routes and eight million passengers every year.
PA