Aer Lingus clerical staff negotiators have deferred next Friday's 24-hour stoppage so 1,400 SIPTU members can ballot on a significantly improved offer from the company.
However, disruption is still possible if caterers press ahead with their action on Friday. The Labour Court has requested a deferral.
Meanwhile, the result of the IMPACT ballot of Ryanair pilots is to be announced today, to coincide with the company's annual results.
The annual results are expected to be good and it is almost certain pilots will back the call for industrial action up to, and including, a strike in pursuit of higher pay and better conditions.
Aer Lingus is understood to have withdrawn most of its productivity demands in its latest offer to SIPTU clerical staff.
This follows intensive talks involving both the Labour Court and Labour Relations Commission at the weekend.
The new package will shorten the clerical scale by 10 years and guarantee pay increases of at least £2,000 a year to each employee The new starting rate will be £12,500 instead of £9,800.
As a result of the new package clerical staff could expect basic salaries to increase by between 20 per cent and 27 per cent.