Up in the air - Still time to resolve air disputes

ONCE again, yet again, anyone planning to use an Irish airport next week must put their plans on hold because of the prospect of a strike by two groups of workers.

As any frequent flyer will tell you air travel can be uncomfortable, frustrating and, when unexplained delays are involved, infuriating. All of that could get worse, and more expensive, next week for the estimated 90,000 people who hope to fly in or out of Ireland.

Notice of a one-day stoppage by air traffic controllers has been served on the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) for next Thursday with the objective of stopping all flights to or from Ireland. This is a significant veto, and one that has the potential to cause damage to the economy and the country’s business reputation, utterly disproportionate to the issues at hand.

It is irrelevant where the blame lies. Whether it is trade union greed or management inefficiency in planning to meet staffing needs, this relatively minor affair should not have to the potential to close our airports.

Indeed, as Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary goaded Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during the week, there were assurances from the highest level after the last air traffic controllers’ dispute that plans would be put in place to make sure that this situation would not recur.

Unsurprisingly, that promise remains unfulfilled.

IMPACT, the union representing the air traffic controllers, claims the dispute centres on a chronic shortage of staff. Be that as it may but demands for enhanced overtime and on-call payments and changes to rosters indicate that it is no more than a skirmish in a wider battle.

Aer Lingus is facing a much more difficult situation. For the third time in less than six months their passengers must face the prospect of being left high and dry because of a strike.

The pilots at the recently privatised airline had their dispute and now ground staff and baggage handlers are opposing changes in work practices.

All of these Aer Lingus disputes can be traced back to the days of State ownership when a less demanding imperative informed their business culture. That has changed utterly and the airline is in shark-infested waters where there is little room for sentiment or public service indulgences.

It costs Ryanair about €40 to provide a seat on a short-haul flight, EasyJet do it for a bit more at €65 but Aer Lingus cannot do it for less than €80. The implications of that imbalance are so obvious as to make any comment superfluous.

Though negotiations on these issues have dragged on for 14 months there remains the possibility of a resolution of the Aer Lingus difficulties.

The result of a strike ballot by workers tomorrow is not a foregone conclusion and there is yet time for a solution that will satisfy the company, the workers and, most importantly, travellers, to be found.

Let us hope one can be reached because the country and its air travellers deserve better.