Losses of €53.7m hit airline hard

FIRST-QUARTER operating losses at Aer Lingus grew by nearly 42% to €53.7 million this year but the airline has reiterated previous guidance that it will maintain profitability for 2011 as a whole.

Management said yesterday the airline’s high-profile cabin crew dispute, which disrupted its schedule in January and February, had an impact on first-quarter performance — as well as a drop in demand for some routes — adding the performance was in line with its expectations.

Chief executive Christoph Mueller also repeated his line from Aer Lingus’ 2010 annual results announcement in early March that management expects the company to report a profit in 2011, but for the actual level of profit to be “much lower” than in 2010.