Aer Lingus has cancelled a further 50 flights next Monday and Tuesday – bringing the journeys cancelled so far to over 270. 

Aer Lingus Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Donal Moriarity announced the cancellations following a meeting with the Labour Court amid an ongoing pay dispute with pilots. 

In a statement, the airline said it will contact impacted customers and aim to find alternative flights or offer a refund.

"Aer Lingus fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers given the uncertainty caused by IALPA’s industrial action," it said.

Some 35,000 passengers have been affected by the cancellations so far. 

Mr Moriarty told reporters outside the Labour Court it’s “clear that the impact of the dispute is ongoing and impactful”. 

“[Cancellations] will continue unless there is a resolution found,” he said. 

“We will be hopeful that today's developments and developments over the coming days may help in that regard.” 

Aer Lingus pay dispute

Members of the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (IALPA) will begin their work-to-rule industrial action from midnight tonight.  

It will also hold an eight-hour strike on Saturday from 5am to 1pm.

IALPA will also attend the Labour Court later today – but President Mark Tighe told Newstalk the union would not change its approach to talks. 

“Our position hasn’t changed,” he said. “What's changed is that the Labour Court has now asked the parties to come in to see if they can provide any services to it. 

“We're still in the same dispute that we were in yesterday.” 

A stop sign at Dublin Airport with an Aer Lingus plan in the background. Image: RollingNews.ie

Mr Tighe said the airline’s passengers are “very important” to pilots – and asked people to understand IALPA’s decision to take industrial action. 

“I would ask people to understand - if they were completely ignored by their bosses, what opportunities they might [take],” he said. 

Pilots are seeking a 24% pay increase as a "cumulative inflationary increase". 

Mr Moriarty previously told Newstalk that IALPA is “unwilling or unable to enter into meaningful, direct discussions”. 

The full list of cancelled flights can be found here.