Negotiations between Aer Lingus management and union representatives of the company’s pilots have been taking place in the Labour Court all day in an effort to resolve an industrial dispute which threatens the future of the airline.
Today’s meeting got under way at 2 p.m. and looks set to run until late into the evening. There is no report of any progress as yet.
All Aer Lingus flights have now been grounded until next Tuesday meaning that the airline will by then have been grounded for five days. The company has not issued any announcement as to when flights will resume.
Aer Lingus management and union representatives of the company’s pilots have begun a meeting at the Labour Court this afternoon.
Yesterday, following 10 hours of talks facilitated by the National Implementation Body, Aer Lingus agreed to today’s Labour Court meeting but added it not be in a position to resume operations on Monday.
Everyday the fleet remains on the ground costs taxpayers an estimated €2 million a day but the company said its position would "continue to be reviewed on a daily basis".
In a statement last night, the NIB said that it was conscious of the important role of Aer Lingus as the State's major airline. It also noted the disruption caused to passengers, to the hotel and tourism sectors and to the wider economy, which it said required "urgent resolution".
The company shut down the airline after a one-day stoppage by pilots on Thursday, saying they could not guarantee service without disruption. Pilots, who turned up for work yesterday had had their security passes revoked, have described the situation as a "lock-out".
The pilots are protesting at the suspension of seven colleagues who refused to work new working practices introduced after recommendations by an independent consultant.