Aer Lingus management warned of loss of goodwill

IN fraught exchanges at an Oireachtas Committee, Aer Lingus management has been told the company would lose goodwill among staff and the public if it pressed ahead with its restructuring plan.

The airline attended the Dáil Transport Committee meeting with pilots and cabin crew representatives to try to resolve a bitter industrial relations dispute.

Politicians criticised aspects of Aer Lingus’ €97m rescue package and plans to develop bases in Washington and Britain.

Capt Evan Cullen, president of Irish Airline Pilots Association, said the company had managed its finances poorly and was asking workers to pay the price. It hedged its fuel purchasing badly and bought two planes when every other airline was leasing them. Mr Cullen said IAPA had suggested ways it could save money, linked with an offer by the pilots to work for four weeks this year for free.

The IMPACT trade union, which represents the cabin crew, said the company’s attempt to have new employees work for less than €17,000 a year was not acceptable.