Aer Lingus stoppages to spark Patrick's Day passenger mayhem

A four hour-stoppage by workers at Aer Lingus and the country’s three main airports on March 14 could ground hundreds of thousands of passengers both here and across the globe.

It is feared that while the action by Siptu members in a dispute over their pension scheme will only shut the Dublin, Cork and Shannon airport terminals from 5am-9am, the knock-on effect at a busy time so close to St Patrick’s Day, will be huge.

Informed sources pointed out that mornings are by far the busiest and most important part of airlines’ and airports’ schedules.