Aer Lingus passengers face more flight cancellations as talks break down

Holidaymakers face more flight cancellations next week as Aer Lingus pilots consider further strikes following a break down of talks aimed at resolving their bitter pay row. The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), part of the trade union Fórsa, met company representatives in a Dublin Airport hotel on Thursday morning as a pilots’ work to rule at Aer Lingus moved into its second day. However, talks broke down in early afternoon with each side blaming the other for failing to move from their respective positions. Capt Mark Tighe, Ialpa president, warned further strikes could follow the union’s planned eight-hour stoppage on Saturday morning, while pilots will also continue their strict work to rule. Aer Lingus branded further strikes “entirely inappropriate” given that the Labour Court asked the parties this week not to step up the dispute. The airline is weighing further flight cancellations to follow the 270 services it has axed through to next Tuesday, to limit the impact of the pilots’ action on customers, according to its chief corporate affairs officer, Donal Moriarty.<br/>