Aer Lingus management and pilots have failed to reach agreement on pay following talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The matter will now be referred to the Labour Court.
In a statement, Aer Lingus said it was disappointed at the manner in which the representative association IALPA had engaged in the WRC process.
The airline said that IALPA representatives had sought pay increases that were significantly higher than the 12.25% increase in consolidated pay and 1.5% increase in unconsolidated pay that had been recommended by an independent pilot pay tribunal in its report in December 2023.
It is understood that IALPA had sought an effective increase in pay for pilots of 27%.
This was comprised of a 20% pay increase over three years and the full cost of a 2019 crewing agreement understood to be worth a further 7%.
In its statement, Aer Lingus said that all other employee groups have already agreed terms similar to those proposed by the pilot pay tribunal.
“Aer Lingus is also conscious of both the moderating inflationary environment and that the public sector pay agreement recently concluded provided for a lower 10.25% increase,” the airline said.
“IALPA’s failure to engage in the WRC process in a responsible manner, risks investment, growth and jobs in the airline into the future,” Aer Lingus said.
IALPA, which is a branch of the Fórsa trade union, said it was disappointed by the statement made by Aer Lingus.
“IALPA has expressed disappointment that Aer Lingus has made this statement at a time when the industrial relations process is still underway,” a spokesperson said.
