THE MANAGEMENT OF Aer Lingus and the pilots’ union IALPA will attend separate talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) today aimed at avoiding industrial action which could cause flight disruption from next week.

A dispute over rostering has led to a proposal from the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) of industrial action from next Tuesday which could affect as many as 30,000 passengers a day when pilots deliberately show up an hour late for work.

Other proposals would see pilots withdraw current flexibility arrangements where they agree to work on free days if required.

IALPA said that 87 per cent of its members voted in favour of industrial action with Aer Lingus chief executive Christoph Mueller saying that the withdrawal of flexibility by pilots would “destroy” the airline’s ability to operate a proper schedule.

Both sides confirmed talks will take place at the LRC today but would not say what or when a resolution might emerge.

Earlier this year, rostering resulted in protracted dispute with the airline’s cabin crew with the result that many staff were removed from the airline’s payroll as flights were disrupted.

That dispute was eventually resolved following a binding arbitration by the LRC.