Aer Lingus pilot’s demand for a 24% pay increase is ‘exorbitant, untenable and will not happen’, the airline has told Newstalk Breakfast.
Yesterday, an overwhelming 99% majority of Aer Lingus pilots voted in favour of industrial action – the second time they have done so in the past week.
No date has been set for the action with the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) unlikely to give Aer Lingus any more warning than the legally required seven days’ notice.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Aer Lingus spokesman Donal Moriarty said the pilots seem to be “absolutely determined to inflict the disruption of industrial action on the travelling public this summer”.
An IALPA sign at the Forsa building in Dublin, 17-06-24. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNewsHe said the airline will do everything it can to minimise disruption for passengers but insisted Aer Lingus can’t be “held to ransom” by pilots demanding an “absolutely untenable” pay rise.
Mr Moriarty said the pilots have already rejected two independent processes – the Aer Lingus Pilot Pay Tribunal and the Labour Court – and are now refusing to engage in meaningful talks or to go to the Workplace Relations Commission.
“What we're saying is that the last thing we want is disruption for customers, but we cannot be held to ransom for a 24% pay increase,” he said.
“It doesn't make sense. It's exorbitant, it's untenable and it will not happen.”
Strike
Asked if a strike is now imminent with both sides so far apart in their positions, Mr Moriarty said, “that seems to be the determined course of IALPA”.
“Any industrial action will inevitably cause very significant disruption with flight cancellations etc,” he said.
“Aer Lingus will do everything we can to minimise that disruption for customers and we will communicate very clearly with them but IALPA are determined to do it.
“The last thing we want is disruption to our customers but equally, we can't be held to ransom by IALPA seeking a 24% increase in pay, which is absolutely untenable.”
Pilot pay
Some pilots have reacted angrily to Aer Lingus’ claim that the wage increase would see senior pilots taking home nearly €350,000 per year.
Mr Moriarty doubled down on the claim and detailed the different pay bands currently on offer at the airline.
He said there are 199 pilots currently working at the airline.
- Just over one quarter are on an overall package – basic pay, variable pay, pension contributions etc. of €287,000.
- The next 12% are on an overall package of €215,000
- The next 19.5% are on an overall package of €170,000
- The remaining 57% are on an overall package of “in and around” €200,000
Mr Moriarty said the IALPA demands would see the top earning pilots package increase to €349,000 per year.
He said the people taking issue with his claims about pay were “looking at base pay only”.
“Pilot pay is comprised of multiple elements, including a very significant pension contribution of 21%,” he said.
“So, the figures I've given you are precise.”
He said Aer Lingus ‘doesn’t know what will happen’ in the coming days – and urged IALPA to bring their concerns to workplace Relations Commission.
“That's the place where this should be resolved,” he said.
“It would be totally unnecessary for them to inflict industrial action on the travelling public.”
'More determined than ever'
Yesterday IALPA president Mark Tighe said pilots the 99% ballot result was an “incredible reaffirmation of our mandate for industrial action”.
He said pilots are now “more determined than ever”.
Captain Tighe noted Aer Lingus reported a €225 million profit in 2023 – a 400% increase compared to 2022.
He said IALPA is following the example of British Airways pilots, who secured a 24% pay increase in 2019.
Aer Lingus is owned by the International Airline Group (IAG) which also owns British Airways.
