Aer Lingus ups ante on striking pilots

Aer Lingus has threatened to cease all services from this Friday unless the airline’s pilots agree to work the terms of a survival plan drawn up last year.

The pilots recently voted to reject working arrangements contained in the plan and seven of them have since been suspended for refusing to work new rosters.

The pilots’ union, IMPACT, called a strike for this Thursday following the first suspension and Aer Lingus has effectively accused the union of treating the survival plan with contempt.

It said all other sectors of the company have accepted the plan.

In a statement released this afternoon, the airline said: "Aer Lingus has consistently maintained that full implementation of the survival plan is vital for the future viability of the company.

"As a result of strike action by pilots on Thursday, and their ongoing refusal to co-operate with the survival plan, Aer Lingus will not be in a position to recommence operations on Friday."

IMPACT has hit back at the threat and vowed that its pilots will not simply capitulate and accept the new working arrangements.

Spokesman Bernard Harbour said: "It seems absolutely incredible that a company talks about survival, but is prepared to be so reckless and to risk the future of the airline simply to avoid talking to its staff."