AER LINGUS has scrapped their travel perks for pilots on strike ahead of fresh talks in a bid to resolve the pay dispute. Travel perks for pilots striking have been suspended "until further notice" as Aer Lingus now claim the biggest priority is to ensure there is as little disruption to passengers as possible. Airline chiefs told striking pilots in a new document that they will be cancelling all flight privileges due to the strike action .
This includes cheap flights , sick-leave arrangements and the use of car parks. This is particularly disruptive to some pilots who commute to work from abroad by benefiting from these schemes. Fresh talks are set to take place today as passengers are now being given hope that the pay dispute will come to an end.
Discussions over pilots' demands for a pay increase of 24 per cent will take place at 9.30am at the Maldron Hotel near Dublin Airport . The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) has accepted the invitation to speak with Aer Lingus chiefs face-to-face.
On Wednesday, an indefinite work-to-rule strike began while an eight-hour strike is set for Saturday from 5am to 1pm. The Labour Court has also asked the Ialpa to ensure any action on their part will not be taken further until it reviews the dispute on July 1 but they have not committed to this. The first day of industrial action by the pilots got underway yesterday with some 270 flights axed over the coming days.
The airline and the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association, a branc.
