Aer Lingus pilots who are members of IALPA have voted 85% in favour of accepting the recent Labour Court recommendation, with a 96% turnout.
IALPA members will experience a 19.2% pay rise by the end of 2026, along with resolutions to other significant issues related to rostering and allowances.
Captain Mark Tighe, President of IALPA, stated, “This is the greatest pay award seen in 30 years for Aer Lingus pilots.”
He added, “Throughout negotiations, management were seeking work practice changes to fund our pay award. However, no work practice changes were conceded in this pay dispute, nor will they be in the future.”
He also emphasised, “Companies making significant profits must ensure that their employees’ remuneration reflects the success of the company, and their salaries are protected from inflation.”
Tighe expressed “disappointment” that Aer Lingus did not reach an agreement with IALPA during the 22 months prior to the Labour Court recommendation, saying, “IALPA believes that the industrial action which affected our passengers was wholly avoidable.”
— IALPA (@IALPA) July 23, 2024
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne today, Tighe claimed that Aer Lingus management have damaged their relationship with their pilots, possibly irreparably.
He mentioned that any efforts to mend the relationship would be appreciated by the pilots, but they need to be genuine and impactful. The agreement reached with Aer Lingus guarantees that all pilots will see a 19.2% pay increase within two years, while new pilots and those in the lowest 20% of the pay scale will see a 30% increase, estimating that this pay agreement would cost the company less than €30 million annually.
In a statement, Aer Lingus itself said it “welcomed the outcome of the ballot which has accepted the Labour Court recommendation”.
Meanwhile, the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) hailed the news as “very positive,” with CEO Clare Dunne saying “It is a good day for the travelling public and we are delighted with the decision by IALPA pilots to accept this pay deal.
“This is a very positive development for intending travellers and the tourism sector.”
The industrial action by Aer Lingus pilots led to 610 flights being cancelled, 573 of which were pre-planned, impacting around 84,000 passengers. That action was suspended, however, pending the outcome of the ballot.