Aer Lingus flights grounded as talks deadlocked

Negotiations to resolve an industrial dispute which threatens the future of Aer Lingus could stretch into the weekend with no indication of success tonight.

Management at the loss-making airline began talks with pilots’ representatives in Dublin this morning as all services remained grounded until further notice.

There was speculation tonight that the two sides may take the negotiations to the Labour Relations Court tomorrow.

Pilots staged a one-day strike yesterday protesting at new work schedules but the airline said the threat of further stoppages had forced them to ground all flights until Sunday night at the earliest.

More than 100,000 travellers have been hit by the cancellations which are costing the company €2m a day.

Before today’s talks, brokered by the National Implementation Body (NIB) and held at Government buildings, Peter McLoone, secretary general of the pilots’ union Impact, said his members wanted to ‘‘get the airline back to work as quickly as possible’’.

He said: ‘‘All of the pilots would prefer to be up in the skies, but obviously the depth of feeling on this is very strong.’’

General secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, David Begg, who is also a member of the NIB, added: ‘‘We are going to stay here as long as we have to today to get some formula that gets this thing fixed. We cannot afford to let this slip through.’’

Pilots who presented themselves for work this morning were told they had no duties. All have been taken off the payroll while flights are grounded.

Impact has accused Aer Lingus of conducting a lockout.

Business and tourism officials have warned that the dispute could slash the number of visitors to Ireland and discourage potential business investment.

The trade union Siptu, which represents ground staff, has warned that the row could prove fatal for the airline, which is currently operating under a survival plan established in the wake of massive losses it suffered after September 11.

Seven pilots have been suspended for failure to comply with new work rosters which were introduced as part of the survival plan.

The airline is expected to lose at least €130m this year after an estimated €90m loss last year.