Aer Lingus to take on 10 new pilots
Aer Lingus tonight revealed that they are to take on 10 new pilots for the airlines new base in Belfast.
This information came to light as talks continued at the Labour Relations Commission to try to avoid Aer Lingus flights being grounded on Tuesday.
The second day of negotiations between airline management and pilots’ union representatives had not concluded by 9pm and both parties were remaining tight-lipped about their progress.
A source said: “Some progress has been made although final agreement has not been reached on any of the issues.”
Aer Lingus has threatened to suspend pilots if they don’t agree by 3am on Tuesday to train new recruits at the airline’s Belfast hub.
Heathrow flying slots were controversially transferred in August from Shannon Airport.
LRC chief executive Kieran Mulvey said earlier as the second day of talks began: “We are focused on working through the issues in a business-like fashion.”
Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion commented before sitting down with Impact union officials: “We are going to give it our best shot.”
Meanwhile Irish Rail was unable to confirm tonight if a one-day strike planned for tomorrow was going ahead.
Services that may be affected include Cork to Dublin, Ennis to Limerick/Dublin, Tralee to Cork, Tralee to Dublin and Cork commuter services.
Line inspection and maintenance workers in the Munster region have threatened industrial action in a dispute related to staff deployment.
