Airport protests - Yet another blow to Aer Lingus sale

HAVING dithered over the privatisation of the national airline, yesterday’s Government decision to sell off Aer Lingus could hardly have been more ill-timed.

Hours before Transport Minister Martin Cullen finally gave the green light for the airline to be sold off, 1,500 passengers suffered the frustrating ordeal of being grounded at Dublin airport as SIPTU workers staged a protest meeting over the job security and pension implications of the proposed sale.

Flights in and out of Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports were directly hit by the 75-minute work stoppage but many more were delayed as a result. Thankfully, flights were back to normal by the afternoon, but there is no denying the airline’s image has been damaged once more and further industrial action is threatened.