Aer Lingus management to brief staff
Aer Lingus management is due to brief staff today about the extent of job losses needed to keep the airline in business following last month’s attacks in the United States.
Up to 3,000 workers are expected to be laid off, with cabin crew and administration staff expected to bear the brunt of the cutbacks.
Aer Lingus has experienced a serious fall in demand since the US attacks, particularly on transatlantic routes.
Yesterday, it slashed air fares to Britain, Europe and the USA in an attempt to stimulate demand and rescue itself from imminent bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, SIPTU, which represents a large proportion of Aer Lingus’ workers, has criticised the government for its failure to deal with the aviation crisis.
Current EU competition law bars governments from providing aid to struggling airlines but SIPTU said Public Enterprise Minister Mary O’Rourke was not convincing in her attempts to have this ban relaxed.
Spokesman Noel Dowling said the Government has campaigned against other EU laws when it suited them, but they have failed to fight for Aer Lingus.
