Aer Lingus pilots begin industrial action over pay dispute

Aer Lingus pilots have begun industrial action in an ongoing dispute with the airline over pay. Members of the Irish Air Line Pilot's Association (IALPA) began an indefinite work-to-rule at midnight on Wednesday. An eight-hour strike is planned for Saturday. Separate meetings on Tuesday at the Labour Court in Dublin involving the IALPA and Aer Lingus failed to reach a resolution. The airline said it is disappointed the Labour Court did not intervene in the dispute but will instead review the matter in July. "Aer Lingus will continue to focus on minimising the disruption caused to customers by IALPA’s industrial action," it said in a statement to Irish broadcaster RTÉ. The airline said it "has made it clear that it remains available for discussions both directly and through the State’s industrial relations framework”. The total number of flights cancelled as a result of the industrial action, Aer Lingus said, has now risen to 270. It called on IALPA to "consider the damage that its continued industrial action is inflicting upon passengers, the company and the Irish economy”.<br/>