Pilots refusing to train Belfast staff face suspension
In a move that could force pilots’ unions IMPACT and IALPA to revive strike action Aer Lingus chief Dermot Mannion yesterday wrote to all pilots based in Dublin telling them a selection of pilots will be required to assist with the screening, assessment, interviewing and appraisal of candidates for the 30 pilots’ posts in Belfast.
“In the absence of co-operation from Irish Airline Pilots Association members to meet these urgent requirements, we will commence instructing relevant pilots from 10 am tomorrow,” he said.
“Please note that... if you fail to carry out your full range of duties, for whatever reason, you will be suspended from the payroll with immediate effect.”
It is believed the pilots’ union IALPA had previously instructed members not to co-operate with the recruitment and assessment process for Belfast.
The airline has signalled its intention that no matter what the objection raised by staff, its first flight from the new Belfast base — the 6.15am service to Amsterdam — will take place on schedule on December 10.
“We have more than 13,000 bookings for the eight destinations from Belfast,” said Aer Lingus commercial director Enda Corneille.
Shay Cody of IMPACT said the pilots would give no reaction to the action until after a scheduled meeting of the pilots’ committee tomorrow.
However, he added: “One thing is certain, if this is their decision, there will be a number of people suspended.”
Meanwhile, Aer Lingus has said the Government’s decision to appoint two directors to the company’s board to prevent the airline giving up on its Cork and Dublin to Heathrow slots, as it did with Shannon, is a moot point.
“Dublin and Cork are very profitable and more than fulfil the objectives we set them in terms of profitability,” said Mr Corneille.
“It was a different story with Shannon for several years. The graph [for its progress] showed marginal profit, marginal loss.”
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