Chaos for Irish passengers as Aer Lingus flights could be grounded within weeks

Chaos is expected for Irish passengers this summer, as pilots in Aer Lingus have voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of industrial action in a dispute over pay.

739 Members of the Irish Air Line Pilot's Association (IALPA) voted 97.7 per cent in favour of taking industrial action up to and including strike. Only 2.3 per cent voted against it.

Aer Lingus pilots are seeking wage hikes of over 20% after rejecting a pay rise of 9% brokered at the Labour Court last week. IALPA members at Aer Lingus reportedly want management to "come to their senses", the association's President has said.

Speaking on RTÉ's Six One news, Captain Mark Tighe described as the results of the IALPA ballot as "resounding" in favour of industrial action.

Tighe did state that the action IALPA will take has yet to be decided, but stressed that the group want to avoid industrial action which could lead to widespread travel disruption for holidaymakers this summer.

"We want to avoid industrial action, we want management to come to their senses," he said. "Talks are ongoing, but he said they are currently "stuck" on an annual cost of less than €3 million for an existing pilot agreement."

The Labour Court has recommended that pilots receive increases of 9.25%, but pilots are seeking just under 24%.

The airline's Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Donal Moriarty has said that the impact of strike action at Aer Lingus by members of IALPA would have a "severe impact" on customers.

According to Tighe, members want their "fair share of the large profits that Aer Lingus are making."

"Last year, they reported €225m profit – an increase of 400% on the previous year," he said.

He went on to compare to British Airways, the sister airline of Aer Lingus, who has "essentially the same operating margin" yet awarded its pilots a 24% increase in 2019.

Aer Lingus reportedly said that the union was "demanding an unsustainable level of increase" in pilot pay.

It added this was "not supported by any increases in productivity or flexibility".