Thousands more Irish holidaymakers are facing travel chaos after Aer Lingus confirmed it was cancelling 76 further flights.

The impacted flights were due to take off in the first three days of next week.

The cancellations come on top of the 122 flights that had already been cancelled between today and Sunday.

In a statement, the airline said it made the move to “protect as many services as possible from the continuing and highly disruptive impact of IALPA’s continuing industrial action”.

IALPA pilots striking at Dublin Airport demanding Aer Lingus increase pay. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

It comes as both sides in the dispute prepare to attend a formal hearing at the Labour Court aimed at finding a breakthrough.

Both Aer Lingus and the Irish Airline Pilots Association have made written submissions to the court and are due to make presentations at the hearing today.

That came after the court met both sides for more than eight hours on Monday.

The court is expected to make a recommendation aimed at resolving the pay row following the hearing.

In the meantime, it has asked IALPA not to escalate the dispute by announcing further industrial action.

IALPA pilots striking at Dublin Airport demanding Aer Lingus increase pay. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

In a statement this morning, Aer Lingus said it would contact passengers impacted by the cancellations.

“Implementing these cancellations is to enable us to protect as many services as possible for as many of our customers as possible,” it said.

“Customers impacted by these latest cancellations between 8th July and 10th July will be given the option to change their flights for free.

“They will also be able to claim a refund or voucher.

“These options will be communicated directly to impacted customers as well as travel agents, while the Aer Lingus ‘Travel Advisory’ page will also have up to the minute information on all the options.”

The airline said it “fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers” and is giving them “as many options as possible” in the circumstances.