DUBLIN- Irish carrier Ryanair (FR) CEO Michael O’Leary has accused Aer Lingus (EI) pilots of “industrial blackmail” following their vote for strike action.
“I don’t think anyone is justified in seeking a 24% or 25% pay increase,” he stated. Mr. O’Leary expressed that the 9.25% interim increase recently recommended by the Labour Court for Aer Lingus’s nearly 800 pilots was “more than fair.”
Ryanair CEO Accuses Aer Lingus Pilots
“I hope and expect that IAG [the owner of Aer Lingus] will stand up to what this is – industrial blackmail,” Ryanair CEO told Irish Independent.
Negotiations between Aer Lingus management and the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) concluded on Thursday evening without significant progress.
Aer Lingus flies about 40,000 passengers daily during the busy summer season, and roughly 95% of those passengers won’t be able to fly if pilots go on strike.
The airline will likely try to maintain essential services on a minimal basis, such as routes from Dublin (DUB) to London Heathrow (LHR) and New York (JFK).
Additionally, Aer Lingus will need to address logistical issues like finding parking for dozens of aircraft if a strike occurs.
Aer Lingus pilots are conducting a new ballot for industrial action this weekend. This follows the airline’s challenge to the union’s earlier electronic ballot, in which the majority of pilots voted in favor of striking.
The new ballot is paper-based, with results expected on Monday. The union would then need to give the company seven days’ notice before any industrial action can legally begin.
“The strikes will not result in chaos,” insisted Mr. O’Leary. “The IAG group has many aircraft operated by BA, Iberia, and Vueling, and they will run plenty of flights to and from Ireland, as will Ryanair, although we hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Fair Offer Rejected
“I think the pilots should accept the Labour Court recommendation, which is a more than fair offer, especially for a group of high-paid pilots already earning over €200,000 a year.”
Last year, an independent pay tribunal recommended a 12.25% increase in consolidated pay and a 1.5% rise in unconsolidated pay for Aer Lingus pilots, but the union rejected this offer.
The union also rejected the Labour Court’s recommendation. The pilots are seeking a nearly 24% increase, which would give some of the highest-paid captains a raise of almost €50,000 a year.
In a video message to members yesterday, Ialpa president Mark Tighe mentioned he had received a solicitor’s letter from Aer Lingus and noted that Ialpa has been in intensive talks with the company over the past week.
“We told you that Ialpa and Fórsa, working together with our solicitors and senior counsel, would ensure that every ‘i’ is dotted and every ‘t’ is crossed,” he said.
Compensation for Passengers
Passengers are now preparing for a possible strike. Aer Lingus has requested that the union provide 15 days’ notice before any action.
Strikes by airline staff are not considered extraordinary circumstances under EU rules, so if flights are canceled or delayed, passengers could claim substantial compensation from the airline.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News.
The post Ryanair CEO Slams Aer Lingus Pilots of Blackmail Amid Strike Threat appeared first on Aviation A2Z.