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HOTELIERS HAVE WARNED that cancelled Aer Lingus flights may pose a “serious risk” to Ireland’s reputation as a tourist destination.
Around 35,000 passengers have been disrupted and over 240 flights have been cancelled in response to industrial action being taken by pilots.
The strike by the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) is the product of an ongoing pay dispute. Members gave notice to Aer Lingus last week that they would work to rule starting this Wednesday.
Michael Magner, President of the Irish Hotels Federation, said the subsequently cancelled flights are an “enormous concern” and that room bookings are already being cancelled as a result.
“There is enormous concern throughout our industry given how important Aer Lingus is for inbound visitors, particularly for transatlantic and long-haul flights.
“It is hugely disruptive and a dreadful outcome for Irish tourism, including for the many thousands of downstream hospitality businesses the length and breadth of the country that heavily rely on tourism during the peak holiday season.”
Hoteliers are calling for the suspension of industrial action and positive engagement from both sides, as “any further disruption risks significant damage to Irish tourism and must be avoided”.
Ryanair has added several flights to its schedule this weekend in response to the strike.
Aer Lingus today said it is possible customers will be informed of flight cancellations at the departure gate.
Over 10 Aer Lingus flights departing from Dublin to London Heathrow have been cancelled over Saturday and Sunday, and Ryanair is putting on an additional 6.45am flight to London Stansted on Saturday, and a 12.15pm flight to Stansted on Sunday.
Two Saturday flights a piece to Malaga and Faro airports departing from Dublin have also been cancelled by Aer Lingus, and Ryanair is putting on an additional flight to Malaga at 10.20am on Saturday, and an additional Faro flight at 6.15am on Sunday morning.
Ryanair said the airline is “working closely with Aer Lingus to accept some of their transfer passengers during the school holidays”, but noted that there is “very limited seat availability”.
IALPA voted to begin industrial action after rejecting a Labour Court recommendation that would have increased pay by 9.25%.
In 2023, Aer Lingus had a full year operating profit of €225 million.
This was a 400% increase on 2022, when a full year operating profit of €45 million was recorded.
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And hotels high prices don’t?
Are these the same Hoteliers who rip people off everytime there’s a big gig on or a 6 nations rugby match and couldn’t give a f k about the tourism industry.
My heart bleeds for them
It is interesting to hear the hotel groups show concern for the pilots work to rule when they themselves gouge prices. At the end of the day, the only people who suffer are the ordinary citizens.
Pity about them. I used to go to Dublin regularly for theatre and concert events but cannot afford to do so now due to exorbitant hotel prices.
They’ll be looking for corporate socialism in the next article from them, despite the industry having record profits only last year.
The cheek of them.
Sooooooooooo nothing to do with their rip off prices and gouging, its the fault of the strike. They really must think the Irish are thick cos they spun this excuse for hiking prices after covid and everything else. Now its the turn of the pilots strike
Don’t anyone feel sorry for these hotel’s, they have no problem scre*ing people with high prices, and more so when there is matches or big music gigs on. It’s pure greed with these guys. Only the wealthy in this country can stay cation.
@Dave Barrett:
Most families can only afford 3 days away where it used to be a week.
The prices are ludicrous ,they have tripled over the last few yrs.
Not surprised people choose to holiday abroad.
Don’t anyone feel sorry for these hotel’s, they have no problem screwing people with high prices, and more so when there is matches or big music gigs on. It’s pure greed with these guys. Only the wealthy in this country can stay cation.
Hotels selling out to fugees did more damage. Greedy b@$tards.
Yes, the flight cancellations will damage Irelands reputation, but tourists stabbed left, right, and center is just “capital city being a capital city”.
When was the last time anyone blamed a country for their flight being cancelled I wonder…
Positive side it will halt the illegals for a while
@John Kenny: Yep. ‘The illegals’ (whatever that means) won’t be able to get here on their scheduled Aer Lingus flights. That doesn’t seem to make sense somehow … Then again, maybe it will free up rooms that tourists had booked and it leaves safe accommodation for others.
@John Kenny:
No it wont. If you think that you need to stop smoking funny stuff. Ryanair and other airlines fly here. There are ferries and we also have a land border in a foreign country up north for people to drive into
Hoteliers don’t need to worry about an Aer Lingus strike damaging tourism as they have already made sure to do that themselves with their extortionate prices and a huge number of hotels closed to the public.
Funnily I was just pricing a midweek break in Waterford,2nd week in september for myself and wife……..2 nights b+b tramore 468 euro….1 week Solou same dates 269 euro ?????????????????????????????
It’s a joke right…… Their members room rates are going to do way more damage to tourism than a strike will ever do……
Hotel prices drive tourists away….
And being greedy filling Hotels with fake asylum seekers won’t harm the Tourist industry ?
Yeah right, because the actual cost of Irish hotels isn’t putting tourists or Irish people off coming and staying.
have your say