Aer Lingus pilots due to decide on pay deal today

Aer Lingus pilots march around Dublin Airport on Saturday, June 29. Ballots opened on Thursday afternoon for pilots to cast their votes on whether or not to back the pay deal. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA

Ballots will close for members of the Irish Air Line Pilots Association (IALPA) this morning, as Aer Lingus pilots decide on whether to accept a new pay deal.

It’s expected a decision will then be announced at lunchtime, potentially bringing to a close the long-running and bitter dispute between the union and the airline which has caused travel chaos this summer.

Services returned to normal at Aer Lingus last Wednesday after weeks of cancellations affecting tens of thousands of passengers due to the industrial action from pilots.

Having been locked in talks that failed to yield a breakthrough for some time, IALPA members began a work-to-rule on Wednesday, June 26. This prompted Aer Lingus to cancel multiple flights each day.

Pilots had sought an almost 24% increase they said was in line with inflation since their last pay rise in 2019. Aer Lingus, however, had said it was willing to offer 12.25% and above if improvements to “productivity and flexibility” were on the table.

During the impasse, efforts to bring the two sides together failed to yield a breakthrough until a Labour Court hearing in early July. It recommended a 17.75% pay increase for pilots through to 2026, along with changes to pay scales and increases to overnight allowances.

The Labour Court noted in its recommendation that there could be a “very grave and unfavourable outcome” to the dispute should a resolution not be found. It was critical of both sides for laying “significant emphasis on the differences between the parties” rather than focusing on positions they did agree on.

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Aer Lingus said that same evening they would accept the terms of the recommendation. IALPA’s executive first sought clarity on aspects of the recommendation from the Labour Court, before also recommending its members accept the deal. 

Its President Captain Mark Tighe said it wasn’t quite the level they had been looking for, but pilots would be better off than they were under this deal. As part of this process, the indefinite work-to-rule action was suspended pending the ballot of members.

Ballots opened on Thursday afternoon for pilots to cast their votes on whether or not to back the deal.

They were due to close at 9am on Tuesday morning. It is understood the process to count the votes would be conducted quickly with a result expected by mid-afternoon.