New Aer Lingus cabin crew recruits have expressed frustration and anger after the airline cancelled planned training at its Dublin academy with just a few days notice last week.
Recruits have to complete an intensive six-week paid training programme, hosted at Aer Lingus’ Training Academy in Dublin. Successful candidates were looking forward to starting the training having also successfully passed online assessments and an in-person assessment day.
Following the completion of the six-week course, fully trained and qualified Cabin Crew Members with Aer Lingus are then eligible to begin work, earning a basic salary of €29,883.26 (Annual Gross) plus variable pay of, on average, €6,500 p.a. (Annual Gross), the airline says.
The training had been due to begin on 20th April.
One disappointed recruit, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Gript that she was excited to begin work as a member of Cabin Crew in July following the recruitment process. She said she was delighted to get through to the six-week training programme, the final stage of recruitment, after up to 6,000 applied and around 200 recruits were selected.
Now, however, successful applicants have been told that Aer Lingus will keep their details on file, if they wish, but they will have to reapply from scratch.
“It’s not as though our place is simply held and deferred for six months or whatever. It’s deeply frustrating and so disappointing because we’re essentially back to square one and have to redo the whole process again – with no guarantee of getting accepted,” she said.
Aer Lingus have said that the decision is based on a review of operational requirements.
‘WE’RE SERIOUSLY OUT OF POCKET’
She said that the cancellation of the training has had an adverse effect on many, particularly recruits from parts of the UK who had organised and paid for accommodation in Dublin for the six weeks of the training. Others had given up full-time employment.
“We are really angry, because we’d sacrificed a lot for this. Personally, I gave up my job in preparation for the training and to start with the airline following that this summer. Luckily, thank God, I’ve been able to get that job back and my employer has been great, in that they’ve taken me back given the circumstances. But others of course are not so lucky. It’s really upsetting for people.
“Others had organised accommodation and places to rent in Dublin, so they had those arrangements made – now they don’t know what to do. A lot of us are not only disappointed and let down, but seriously out of pocket.”
She said that Aer Lingus has not yet provided a definitive reason to explain why it cancelled the training.
In an email to staff, the airline said that the decision was made “following a review of operational requirements.”
Because of this, staff were told that the airline had made the decision to reduce the size of its upcoming Cabin Crew Training programme.
“As a result, we will unfortunately not be in a position to proceed with your training at this time,” Aer Lingus said. “We understand that this is disappointing news,” it added, with staff receiving a cancellation letter.
‘PEOPLE HAVE RELOCATED DURING A HOUSING, ECONOMIC & FUEL CRISIS’
The staff member who contacted this publication had been offered a position as a trainee Cabin Crew member in March.
An email sent from Aer Lingus read: “This Training Course is the final stage of our recruitment and selection process and provides successful applicants with the opportunity to learn the skills required to become an Aer Lingus Cabin Crew Member. If you successfully complete your Training Course and achieve and maintain the required performance and conduct standards, you will be offered further employment with Aer Lingus, subject to continuing satisfaction process.”
Other disappointed recruits have expressed annoyance at the airline.
In one online group, one wrote: “I think this whole process has shone a very bad light on Aer Lingus. From the start to finish it\s been the most stressful time of my life.
“I paid out of my own pocket for Visas, Medicals, and attended my second medical just two weeks ago to be prepared for the course that was cancelled. To cancel all the rest of the courses for the rest of the year, some of which were cancelled three working days prior to the start date when people have relocated during a housing, economic and fuel crisis is just crazy.”
The recruit said that staff “feel like a number,” adding: “We’ve given up jobs to accept our ‘dream’ job which [now feels] like a nightmare.”
Recruits say they will now struggle to find a job in aviation this year as recruitment drives have ended for the season, and that they had chosen Aer Lingus over other airlines for the opportunity promised.
“It’s not right,” said the staff member who spoke to Gript. “There’s been nothing in the way of an apology or an explanation to all these people. It’s really left a bad taste in my mouth and the way the whole thing has been handled has just been unprofessional.”
Aer Lingus were contacted for comment but we did not receive a response by the time of the publication of this article.