Aer Lingus says new aircraft set to be delayed after pay talks break down

Aer Lingus says it is “unlikely” to receive the first of several new aircraft due to the airline after talks on a pilot pay dispute ended in deadlock. Members of the Irish Airline Pilot’s Association (Ialpa) are seeking pay increases of more than 20% to bring earnings in line with inflation and salaries paid by other carriers. Aer Lingus said on Wednesday that talks aimed at resolving the row by the end of this month “concluded without agreement”. The carrier acknowledged that it was “unlikely” that it would receive the first of six new Airbus jets that it was due to receive from parent International Airlines Group (IAG), as a consequence. “Aer Lingus now looks forward to the pay dispute being heard by the Labour Court on April 22nd,” said a statement. The airline opened direct talks with the union ahead of the scheduled Labour Court hearing as it hoped to get a resolution before April 28th, when IAG had to make a final decision on which of its carriers would get the new Airbus. That aircraft is due to begin flying in September. Ialpa confirmed to members on Wednesday that it and Aer Lingus had agreed to end talks and go to the Labour Court. The union noted that Aer Lingus had told representatives that it was not in a position to increase basic pay above the 8.5% offered by an internal company tribunal, which pilots rejected in January.<br/>