Irish aviation’s survival at stake, Fórsa warns

Irish aviation’s survival will be at stake if the Government fails to boost aid to the industry alongside any tougher Covid-19 travel restrictions, trade union Fórsa warned on Monday. Meanwhile, airline Aer Lingus confirmed that it was keeping its 2021 schedules under “constant review” while officials weigh introducing extra quarantines or banning travel from some regions. Aer Lingus has been selling its summer 2021 schedule since late last year, but is flying just 15% of the services that it would have offered this time two years ago. Aer Lingus said earlier this month that it would review its plans for this year as governments stepped up curbs on travel. Ministers are considering tightening the Republic’s already stringent restrictions, including limiting travel from virus-variant hotspots, as the State struggles with the Covid wave. Ashley Connolly, senior official with Fórsa – which represents thousands of pilots, cabin crew and airport workers – warned that such measures would devastate an industry already reeling from the virus.<br/>