Aer Lingus agree plan to cut 1,300 jobs

Aer Lingus bosses agreed tonight to a three year plan which could cut 1,300 jobs.

It is understood the plan outlines cutting the workforce by a quarter to 2,700 across Dublin, Shannon, and Cork airports by 2008.

The jobs would go from among cabin crew, baggage handlers, check-in staff, and the cargo and catering teams.

Company bosses added it was part of a new strategy to make the company a low fare operator.

But they said the airline was in line to hit its target of €95 million profit for this year.

Company bosses are set to meet union chiefs tomorrow to discuss the radical changes.

Earlier today both SIPTU and the other main union IMPACT reacted angrily to the proposals claiming workers had already delivered change and the company had reaped significant profits.

SIPTU’s Mick Halpenny said there was no case made for compulsory layoffs.

“No clear case has been made out to us that there is a necessity for any redundancies, far less 1,300,” the union’s national industrial secretary said.

“There will be no acceptance of any compulsory redundancy and any attempt by the company to force change on us will be resisted.”

Aer Lingus chief executive Willie Walsh, who proposed a management buy-out of the state owned airline, has warned the company must cut costs by 10% to tackle competition from budget carriers.

The rapid expansion plan is also thought to outline proposals for 24 commercially viable European routes.