Two more Aer Lingus pilots suspended

Two more pilots from Aer Lingus were suspended by the airline tonight for refusing to train new recruits.

This brings to seven the number of officers told not to come back to work until they agree to mentor air crew for the controversial Belfast base, with further suspensions expected in the coming days.

Four pilots were suspended on Tuesday and a fifth yesterday.

Thousands of passengers face disruption from early next week as the escalating dispute threatens to ground the airline, with pilots told to confirm by Monday their co-operation or face being removed from the payroll.

Trade union Impact, which represents the pilots, said tonight it was committed to negotiating a settlement.

A spokesman said: "Impact remains committed to a negotiated settlement, and is willing to meet with the company, either directly or through the industrial relations machinery of the state, in order to achieve this.

"At the time of release, no further developments on talks to resolve the ongoing difficulties have taken place."

The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) yesterday contacted the parties to say it was available for talks but none were scheduled.

Aer Lingus said it would only talk with the union when the non-co-operation ban was lifted.

The suspension warning was issued to pilots from Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion earlier this week.

Mr Mannion said the airline's pilots were needed to help train applicants to the captain and co-pilot positions at the new Belfast hub.

The Belfast-Heathrow route is due to begin in December.