The dispute which has led to Aer Lingus pilots calling a 24-hour strike next week looks set to escalate after two more pilots were suspended yesterday.
The pilots' union, IMPACT, yesterday threatened further action after Thursday's strike if the dispute is not resolved.
As there were no plans yesterday for talks between the company and the union, a speedy resolution of the dispute looked remote.
Last Wednesday a pilot was suspended after he refused to comply with new work practices brought in by Aer Lingus at midnight last Sunday but which were rejected by the union. As a result, IMPACT immediately served notice of the 24-hour strike from midnight next Thursday.
Yesterday Aer Lingus confirmed that two more pilots had been suspended following their refusal to carry out new work practices.
Assistant general secretary of IMPACT Mr Michael Landers said he was not surprised that more pilots had been suspended. The union had told the 530 pilots not to comply with the new terms and conditions, which were rejected in a ballot last week.
"If this situation is not resolved by Thursday, we will be planning further action," Mr Landers said.
He said that as the dispute continued, more pilots would be suspended. This would lead to an increased workload for other pilots and he believed it would eventually affect flights.
"After the ballot we wrote to the company telling them we were available to talk. There have been no discussions to resolve the dispute," he said.
Mr Dan Loughrey, Aer Lingus corporate affairs director, said yesterday: "There are no developments at all. We regard the process of discussions as at an end."
The company had exhausted all negotiation processes and was determined to implement the survival plan in full, he said.
He rejected the suggestion that as pilots were suspended, flights would be affected. "We have an excess of pilots. I don't anticipate any disruption to the flight schedules," he said.
World Cup fans scheduled to fly out with Aer Lingus to Japan next Thursday, the day of the threatened pilots' strike, will be rebooked on flights the day before on Wednesday, May 29th.
This means the fans will be there well in time for the Republic of Ireland's first match against Cameroon on Saturday.
Passengers are advised to contact their travel agent or the special Aer Lingus Helpline on 1-800 222221 to confirm reservations.
Changes have also been made to flight departure times on Transatlantic flights on Wednesday.