Pilots vote for deal to end Aer Lingus dispute

Aer Lingus pilots have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a deal which clears the way for the establishment of the airline’s new Belfast base, it emerged tonight.

A ballot of 480 pilots by the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), a branch of trade union Impact, was 80% in favour of the agreement negotiated by both sides last weekend.

It brings to an end the at times bitter dispute between management at the carrier and pilots over terms and conditions of employment at the Belfast hub.

It came to a head last week after Aer Lingus threatened to remove pilots from the payroll if they had not agreed by last Tuesday to train new recruits for the northern base.

Impact warned members not to co-operate with the new Belfast to Heathrow service, transferred from Shannon Airport in August, because of concerns over terms and conditions of employment.

As the row escalated, seven pilots were suspended from the airline last week and many more were expected to follow until a resolution was found.

But Aer Lingus and Impact drew up a framework for the opening of future bases on local terms and conditions after marathon crisis talks between both sides at the Labour Relations Commission last weekend.

Both sides agreed the airline could establish new bases on local terms and conditions of employment.

Pension arrangements for staff transferring between Dublin and Belfast were also included.