The first day of industrial action by Aer Lingus pilots got underway without much disruption.Passengers who arrived at Dublin Airport hoped their flight would not be cancelled at the last minute, and described their nerves over recent days.
Aer Lingus has already cancelled 270 flights over the coming days due to industrial action by pilots over pay.
The indefinite work-to-rule commenced at midnight, with pilots now refusing to work overtime, accept changes to set rosters or take on out-of-hours management requests.
An eight-hour strike is also planned for Saturday.
A resolution to the bitter dispute looked a long way away after the Irish Labour Court told both sides it will not be intervening at the present time.
But on Wednesday afternoon, the pilots group IALPA said it had accepted an invitation to talks with Aer Lingus as the work-to-rule continues.
They are expected to meet at 9.30am tomorrow.
The travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers have been affected, with the airline having been working to offer refunds or alternative flights to those whose trips have been axed.
At Terminal 2 of Dublin Airport on Wednesday morning, Aer Lingus passengers whose flights were not cancelled were in good spirits.
Audrey from Galway, who was headed to Bilbao with her family, said she had received an email on Saturday to say their flight was going ahead, which reassured them.
“But between last Wednesday and Saturday, it was very upsetting, wondering whether we’d be able to go,” she said.
“It’s our one family holiday of the year, and obviously we wanted it to go ahead because otherwise, there would be a lot of consternation in the house. So, we’re happy ours is going ahead, and feel sorry for anyone else who isn’t able to go today.”
She said they were flying back with Aer Lingus, and had an extra few days off before they returned to work.
“We’re just willing to wing it and see how we go. We had checked alternative flights and even ferries if this hadn’t gone ahead, just in case. But once we’re there, we’ll be happy,” she said.
“The thought of not getting there is the issue, but once you’re there you’re relaxed.”
Asked about whether she supported the industrial action, she said it seemed to her that there was a good offer on the table.
“I suppose I’m probably not as incredibly angry as someone whose flight has been cancelled, but I think it is difficult to sympathise with the pilots, to be honest with you, because they are well paid to begin with,” she said.
Diarmuid, who is from Dublin and travelling to France, said the pilots “had to do it at some stage”.
“I can see the justification for it. If it’s an all-out strike, then we’re in awful trouble, but this work-to-rule has allowed a certain amount of flow of passengers. I’d love more transparency from the company about profit levels,” he said.
Catherine, who is from Dublin but lives in Minnesota, in the US, said her flight was not affected, but that she had been “anxious” coming up to the flight.
“I think it’s rotten because it affects so many families going on holidays, but they do it because that’s the height of negotiations. I really feel for families,” she said.
“If you are making record profits, you should give back to the people who took a nosedive during Covid, but you also can’t be greedy.”
Parents travelling abroad with their children spoke of their concerns about whether they would have to break bad news to their children excited about their holidays.
Passengers appeared happy once their flight to their destination continued, and willing to extend their stay if needed.
A woman who is flying to the US said she had been anxious in the run-up to Wednesday and had had a “wait-and-see approach”.
Asked if she was flying back with Aer Lingus, she said “hopefully”.
“I didn’t think they would resolve it, because I can’t see them getting what they want, truthfully. I feel sorry for the cabin crew and the ground crew,” she said.
