Airline's employees 'welcome children'

Aer Lingus staff who called a radio show yesterday said they had never heard of any complaints or difficulties regarding unaccompanied…

Aer Lingus staff who called a radio show yesterday said they had never heard of any complaints or difficulties regarding unaccompanied children travelling with the airline.

On Tuesday, the Aer Lingus chief executive, Mr Willie Walsh, outlined difficulties with child passengers when he explained to an Oireachtas committee why the company had decided to withdraw services for unaccompanied minors.

Yesterday, however, on RTÉ radio's Liveline, a member of the airline's cabin crew said the first they had heard of the withdrawal of the service was in the media. She said staff had no part in making the decision.

Speaking to Joe Duffy, she said she understood that people were upset but the cabin crew did not make the policy.

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"We've never been paid for taking care of children. I've never heard of any crew member being assaulted by a child. I'm flying for nearly eight years and I've never had a problem with an unaccompanied child," she added.

Another Aer Lingus staff member who works at check-in said she had dealt without problem with many unaccompanied children.