Deal averts threat of flight disruption at Aer Lingus

Pilots and management at Aer Lingus have reached a deal to resolve the dispute over the airline's planned new Belfast base and avert the threat of flight chaos this week.

The agreement was reached in the early hours of this morning during talks that dragged on throughout the night at the Labour Relations Commission.

Aer Lingus has already suspended seven pilots for refusing to co-operate with the recruitment and training of pilots for the new Belfast hub.

The airline had also threatened to suspend all the rest of its pilots tomorrow morning unless they gave a written undertaking to carry out their training duties.

The dispute centred on pay and conditions for pilots in Belfast, which will be inferior to those enjoyed by pilots in the Republic.

Speaking this morning, IMPACT spokesman Michael Landers said progress had been made and the union would be recommending that its members accept the new deal.

Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion, meanwhile, said it was "all systems go" for the Belfast hub and pilots there would be recruited on local terms and conditions.

He also said he expects that the seven pilots who were suspended last week will be reinstated.