Aer Lingus removes rebel cabin crew from duty

AER LINGUS late last night escalated the action against its cabin crew by removing at least 12 staff operating out of Cork and Dublin from duty in a move that will further intensify the dispute between the airline and its flight personnel.

Yesterday afternoon, the airline confirmed that this morning it would begin meetings with the 31 cabin crew members who had refused to work the rosters introduced by the airline. That refusal lead to the cancellation of two transatlantic flights. Those 31 staff were not removed from duty by the airline.

However, according to their trade union, IMPACT, the staff removed from duty last night — understood to be four in Cork and at least eight in Dublin — were sanctioned by the airline for taking meal breaks.