Aer Lingus passengers arriving and departing from Dublin and Shannon airports could face significant disruption on Thursday morning next, amid plans by members of the Siptu trade union to stage a protest meeting of one hour and 15 minutes.
It is possible that staff at Cork airport will also become involved in the industrial action, which is scheduled to take place between 9.45am and 11am on Thursday, at the height of the summer season.
This month alone, Dublin airport is expecting a record two million passengers to pass through its doors. Siptu's membership include baggage handlers, catering, administrative staff, cleaning staff and some cabin crew.
Aer Lingus management and representatives of Siptu are expected to meet early this week to discuss outstanding issues at the company.
The meeting, which will focus mainly but not exclusively on pensions, is likely to take place either on tomorrow evening or Wednesday morning.
Siptu national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny confirmed last night that Siptu members had decided to proceed with the action last Tuesday and had written to Aer Lingus management on Friday to inform them that the meeting would be going ahead on Thursday.
Among the union's main concerns are pay and rewards schemes at the company,which are currently being considered by the Labour Court; pensions; and the maintenance of job numbers.
Mr Halpenny estimated that hundreds of the union's members could take part in the protest meeting. While the union was always willing to talk, he said the company "knows what the problems are".
"The ball is very much in their court," he said.
Mr Halpenny refused to comment on whether Siptu planned any further work stoppages or an escalation of its industrial action.
Siptu's members are also understood to be concerned about recent media reports that the company was prepared to proceed with privatisation whether union agreement was secured or not.
These reports emerged recently in the context of a proposed deal to win over staff ahead of the airline's flotation in September.
While disruption was "inevitable", the union had attempted to limit the effect of this on the travelling public, Mr Halpenny said.
Aer Lingus yesterday declined to say how many flights might be affected by the work stoppage. However, a spokeswoman said it remained confident that all of its flights would operate to schedule.