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Aer Lingus pilots will begin work-to-rule next week - here's how it might affect holidaymakers

Members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association confirmed that the planned industrial action will take effect from 26 June and last indefinitely.

LAST UPDATE | 18 Jun 2024

AER LINGUS PILOTS have announced that they will begin an indefinite work-to-rule against their employer from 26 June amid an ongoing row over pay. 

Members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) confirmed this evening that the industrial action will include a refusal to work overtime or any out of hours duties requested by management.

Yesterday, the union voted 98.82% in favour of taking industrial action, up to and including full withdrawal of labour. Turnout for the ballot was 89%.

It was the second time that IALPA members had voted in favour of strike action, with a ballot last week securing 98% support. 

Aer Lingus has said that the decision taken by the union was “entirely unnecessary” and will “inevitably result in significant disruption to our customers and to other employees”. 

Let’s take a look at how people planning to travel might be affected. 

Why have Aer Lingus pilots decided to take industrial action?

Aer Lingus pilots who are members of the union are seeking a pay rise of 23.8% over three years, which would be similar to what British Airlines – a sister airline of Aer Lingus – awarded pilots in 2019.

Members have already rejected a Labour Court recommendation that they should receive a pay increase agreement of 9.25% in the near term.

The IALPA said the 23.8% increase it is seeking is “clearly reasonable and affordable for a profitable company such as Aer Lingus.”

It noted that 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.

A spokesperson for Aer Lingus has said that IALPA has “rejected the outcomes of two independent processes which have sought to resolve the issue”.

They said that Aer Lingus pilots are “rightfully well paid for the work that they do” and “more than fairly compensated compared to the market”.

What happens if my flight is cancelled due to industrial action?

Speaking to The Journal after pilots voted in favour of strike action yesterday, travel commentator Eoghan Corry said that people should not panic. 

“The airline is under contract to get you to where you’re supposed to go. There’s not much point fretting about it,” he said.

“It’s between the airline and the union, and if the strike does go ahead, you won’t be out of pocket. They will use Iberia, British Airways, whatever means they can, to get you to where you’re supposed to go.”

Under EU regulations, consumers have certain rights when flights are delayed or cancelled. That could include when there is a strike at the airline involved.

These rights may include compensation for delayed or cancelled flights, as well as care and assistance while passengers wait.

These rights apply when travelling through airports in any EU country or Norway, on board flights departing from these countries, and on flights arriving into any of these countries if you are travelling with an EU airline. 

A spokesperson for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) told The Journal:Strikes by baggage handlers or other groups external to the airline may be considered extraordinary circumstances, but strikes by airline staff – referred to as internal strikes – are not considered extraordinary circumstances and so any compensation due under EU regulations must be paid.”

Where a passenger’s flight is cancelled, they are entitled to either:

  • A refund of the cost of their ticket within seven days,
  • Re-routing to their destination at the earliest opportunity,
  • Re-routing at a later date of their choice subject to the availability of seats. 

They may also be entitled to compensation. 

The CCPC spokesperson added that consumers who have trouble accessing compensation can lodge a complaint through the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), which is responsible for enforcing these rights in Ireland.

Am I entitled to compensation if my flight is cancelled?

In this case, Aer Lingus had requested that a minimum of 15 days notice be given by IALPA if they intended to strike in order to minimise disruption for passengers.

A passenger is not entitled to compensation if they have received at least two weeks notice that their flight has been cancelled. 

A spokesperson for IALPA told The Journal yesterday that it was considering the airline’s request. However, the union has now decided to give Aer Lingus the legally required notice period of seven days.

Any passengers who have their flights significantly delayed or cancelled will be entitled to compensation once they are given less than 14 days notice.

The level of compensation will depend on the distance of the flight in question:

  • Passengers on short-haul flights (1,500km or less) will be entitled to €250
  • Passengers on medium-haul flights (over 1,500km within the EU and other flights between 1,500 and 3,500km) will be entitled to €400
  • Passengers on long-haul flights will be entitled to €600 

Passengers may also be entitled to compensation if they arrive at their destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time. Again, the level of compensation will depend on the distance of the flight. 

If the airline can prove that the delay was caused by an extraordinary circumstance which could not have been avoided, no compensation is payable. But as stated above, the CCPC has said that strikes by airline staff are not considered extraordinary circumstances. 

Will travel insurance cover my cancelled trip?

Some travel insurance policies will cover travel disruption in the event of a strike, according to Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) CEO Clare Dunne. 

“If they have travel disruption cover or industrial action cover in place, then they may be able to claim something back,” Dunne told The Journal yesterday.  

However, if passengers attempt to take out the travel insurance now, it’s unlikely to cover them at this point. 

“What we’re hearing from some of the insurance companies is that now that the event has been declared, even though it hasn’t been quantified, the underwriters are still saying that they’re not prepared to cover it because it’s been announced.”

Dunne advised anyone who has booked with a travel agent to speak to them about their options. 

“The travel agents will assist them to get the best alternatives, whether they want to go on a later or earlier flight or whatever it is, to get them where they need to be.”

What happens next?

The planned work-to-rule will take effect from one minute past midnight on 26 June and will last indefinitely. A potential strike also remains an option. 

However, speaking to The Journal yesterday, Eoghan Corry said that he believes an all-out strike won’t happen.

“My strong instinct is there will not be a strike. They will go back into negotiations and there will be a deal, but it will be later rather than sooner,” he said.

“The reason is that the airline is now hemmed in a corner. The union have them where they want,” he said.

“They’re already hitting the forward bookings for Aer Lingus, because people who were thinking of booking Aer Lingus are going elsewhere for summer bookings.”

If a full strike does go ahead, it will mean Aer Lingus will have to reschedule flights and bring passengers where they’re supposed to go, and if IALPA give less than two weeks’ notice, Aer Lingus will have to pay compensation.

“There’s probably a lot of talking to be done before there’s a deal. The reason is that the union are moving from a position of strength,” Corry said.

“They could wait until the day of the strike and then strike the deal at four o’clock in the morning. We’ve seen that happen in the past.

“There’s nothing to be gained by striking the deal in advance. The more you scare the passengers, the more you damage Aer Lingus and that’s what they’re setting out to do.”

This article was originally published at 7pm on 17 June. It has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date information.

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46 Comments
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    Mute sean weir
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    Jun 17th 2024, 9:11 PM

    Unbelievable that these highly skilled professionals have not had a pay rise since 2019.
    Even more unbelievable some of the comments backing the management after they posted profits of 223 million last year .

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    Mute qffaffaf affrafrfraf
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    Jun 17th 2024, 6:28 PM

    the 200,000 a year they’re on isn’t enough, my heart bleeds for them

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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Jun 17th 2024, 8:48 PM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: that’s a captain at the very top of the pay scale who is flying his whole life. The rest are on €50,000 – €60,000

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    Mute T S
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    Jun 18th 2024, 9:00 AM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: only, that’s incorrect so toddle on!

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    Mute Tricia G28
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    Jun 18th 2024, 9:43 AM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: When you have to cherry pick, and lie by omission, you just damage your own argument and show you’re in no way sincere in your point.

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    Mute James Gorman
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    Jun 18th 2024, 8:22 PM

    @Jason Ebbs: publish the scales so

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    Mute Maurice Lee
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    Jun 19th 2024, 10:57 AM

    @jak: O’Leary’s boys are unionized now also so he would be going through the exact same process and wouldn’t have any choice but to take what comes. Corporate greed needs to be sorted before it gets out of hand. I support these pilot’s 100%. The rest of the Aer Lingus staff should go out with them and support their rights as employees.

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    Mute John Harron
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    Jun 19th 2024, 11:51 PM

    @jak: is that you Michael?

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    Mute Michael o Dwyer
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    Jun 17th 2024, 6:58 PM

    It costs a lot to become a pilot also a lot of time and hard work. If you are skilled at doing something you should be well rewarded. And I for one would want my pilot happy as the proverbial pig

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jun 17th 2024, 6:45 PM

    Aer Lingus had an operating loss of €82 million for the first quarter of this year, 800 of the militant beggars intent on bankrupting the company.

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    Mute Mick Scanlan
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    Jun 17th 2024, 7:08 PM

    @Pat Barry: I take it your in management

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    Mute Dermot McFintan
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    Jun 17th 2024, 7:35 PM

    @Pat Barry: There were four quarters in a year Pat, when I was going to school.

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    Mute Brian Connaughton
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    Jun 17th 2024, 8:00 PM

    @Pat Barry:

    International Airlines Group owns Aerlingus, it’s operating profit for the first three months of the year was €68m.

    IAG owned BA and Luftansa awarded their pilots similar to what Aerlingus pilots are asking. Aerlingus pilots haven’t had a pay increase since 2019 – therfore technically early less than they did 5 years ago.

    Aerlingus requested 15 days strike notice knowing well if the union acquiesce, then Aerlingus would not be eligible to compensate its passengers under EU law, nice touch.

    Yes, clearly the Aerlingus pilots are the bad guys.

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    Mute KB
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    Jun 17th 2024, 8:01 PM

    @Pat Barry: if you bothered to read the results, quarter 1 is always their least profitable quarter. Their profits for 2023 were 225 million. You can rest assured they are highly profitable but perhaps reading the facts doesn’t suit your narrative. Source – Aer Lingus website. Suggest you read it.

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    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
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    Jun 17th 2024, 8:07 PM

    @Pat Barry: they regularly make a loss in the first quarter. It’s winter season. They clean up for the rest of the year. It was probably mentioned in that article where you got that €82m loss figure from. They made a huge profits last year after a loss in the first quarter. They are growing year after year.and forecasting more profits! Those “militant beggars” salary has lost 20% of its buying power. I think you’d be the same or should we let all companies walk all over us while they squeeze more profits year after year.

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    Mute Unridden Ana
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    Jun 17th 2024, 9:19 PM

    @Pat Barry: you don’t judge a company (especially an airline) on profits or losses in ONE quarter. They had profits of €225 million last year

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    Mute Paul
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    Jun 18th 2024, 7:02 AM

    But how will people on the dole be able to take their Social Welfare holidays in the sun now?
    Someone please spare a thought for them in this whole mess!

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    Mute Tom
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    Jun 17th 2024, 7:21 PM

    Greed

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    Mute William O leary
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    Jun 17th 2024, 8:05 PM

    they fly 700 hours a year ..legal requirement and on average 200k a year .that’s 285 euros an hour ….its not a whiff of greed its a union promoted stink intent on breaking aer lingus

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    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
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    Jun 17th 2024, 8:12 PM

    @William O leary: 200k now is the same as around 165k four years ago….. The top of the American pilots scales are around half a million.

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    Mute Tanya Burke
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    Jun 17th 2024, 9:12 PM

    @William O leary: Aer Lingus regularly have to cancel flights because they simply do not have enough pilots to fly them all. This is because pilots have voted with their feet, and gone to companies where the pay and conditions are better. Aer Lingus are paying pilots less than, BA, Lufthansa, Air France and nearly all the major US airlines. Pilots are in high demand, and yet Aer Lingus freezes pay for 5 years, and refuses to match the pay of their IAG sister company. Not the cleverest management decision…

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    Mute James Gorman
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    Jun 17th 2024, 9:31 PM

    @Tanya Burke: and that is the way pay pressure works and should work in private sector. Not strikes.

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    Mute Éanna o Sca
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    Jun 17th 2024, 9:58 PM

    @William O leary: be careful what they wish for – they’ll end up running the company into the ground. AL are troubled child for IAG, they’ll drop them like a hat. 8% of the corporation

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    Jun 17th 2024, 10:06 PM

    @William O leary: That’s not bad. My family of 4s fare more than covered a pilots pilots pay down and back to Malaga…… On a packed a330. Another 300 passengers and cargo….. I wouldn’t worry too much about breaking that profit making machine!

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    Mute William O leary
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    Jun 17th 2024, 11:02 PM

    @Tanya Burke: if all the other airlines are paying so much then why don’t they all leave and move to the other airlines..its a free market..

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    Mute Ted Daly
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    Jun 18th 2024, 10:26 AM

    @William O leary: incorrect. That’s at the very top of the pay scale after many, many years. Most are on 60/70k. Facts can be pesky.

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    Mute William O leary
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    Jun 17th 2024, 8:15 PM

    American pilots fly 1000 hours a year…..bit of a difference

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    Mute Terry Molloy
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    Jun 17th 2024, 11:35 PM

    I would pay for a pilot than pay for politicians

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    Mute daz Carroll
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    Jun 17th 2024, 9:45 PM

    So they want a quarter of their current salary extra for pressing auto pilot for the majority of a journey lol

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    Mute lastfewchocices
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    Jun 18th 2024, 7:41 PM

    Nearly 93% in favour is a good indication of their intent. I hope they get what they want. Too many large companies screwing workers into the ground while raising their prices and reporting huge profits.
    Good luck to these pilots. And I hope more people kop on soon.

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    Mute john logan
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    Jun 18th 2024, 2:09 PM

    Has anyone mentioned the free parking at Dublin airport, plus the generous travel concessions for family and friends. Its all on the AL website folks. They also get 21% of their salary paid into a pension fund enjoying tax free growth forever.. The list goes on and on. Am I allowed to wonder if any earn an income off the free parking. Hmmmm.. Only thing they can’t afford is a union that won’t embarass them..!!! Oh did I mention the free parking..

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    Mute Derek O Gorman
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    Jun 18th 2024, 5:46 AM

    24% raise lol unions destroy companies.

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    Mute Paul O+Brien
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    Jun 18th 2024, 8:49 AM

    Let’s all hope a deal is struck soon. It’s going to have to end in an agreement either way. I do feel as though the lesser paid pilot grades have a valid claim and should be fairly treated.
    The only place where unions still exist with power is the public sector. The private sector employees no longer have that luxury in the hire em and fire em private sector.

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    Mute Paul
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    Jun 18th 2024, 9:28 AM

    @Paul O+Brien: you have no idea how hard it is to fire an employee in Ireland

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    Mute James Gorman
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    Jun 17th 2024, 9:29 PM

    The one reason I avoid Aer Lingus

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    Mute marklars81
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    Jun 18th 2024, 9:37 AM

    @James Gorman: The pilots wanted a raise is the reason you avoid AL? Really?

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    Mute Dramafree 2023
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    Jun 19th 2024, 7:14 AM

    Firstly I would like to note I am not a fan of striking, bully boy tactics to get your way. But reading the comments above there appears to be v little context on the situation. Last pay rise was 2019. Since the. Minimum wage has gone from 10.50 to 12.70. British Airways a sister company has increased their wages by 23%. While I don’t agree with the strike and the timing….just coming into summer, the euros and olympics. Not to mention that my husband is due to fly for a work meeting on Wednesday so I am already personally affected by the plans. I have to wonder what the management thought would happen.

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    Mute Clare Power
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    Jun 17th 2024, 9:27 PM

    Reading some of the articles here, it appears rugby is the sport of choice for a particular brand of sc@mbag….

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    Mute Shane O Mac
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    Jun 17th 2024, 7:12 PM

    Spare a thought for them if you seen them at the bowling alley

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jun 17th 2024, 7:32 PM

    @Shane O Mac: they are rich people alrighty

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    Mute Paul O+Brien
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    Jun 19th 2024, 8:54 AM

    I’m sure Aer Lingus bookings will be down over 90% going forward until a deal is reached.
    I cant see this dragging on too long at that rate.
    I’m glad to see it’s a work to rule and not a full strike. A clever move by the IALPA as the pilots continue to fly and get paid .
    It’s enough to stop bookings and bring the airline to a virtual standstill over time if negotiations drag on into the summer.
    When bookings dry up the rest of Aer Lingus staff could be laid off temporarily.
    Aer Lingus management need to get a fair and workable deal done and quickly or huge damage will be caused to the Airline and that’s in nobody’s interest.

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    Mute Peter Byrne
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    Jun 18th 2024, 8:44 PM

    I hope the strike is fixed before the 2025 Six Nations

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    Mute You're Not Serious
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    Jun 19th 2024, 10:38 AM

    Typically the end of the month is when WTR has greatest effect- so definitely cancellations etc are happening end of next week unfortunately

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    Jun 19th 2024, 12:17 PM

    @You’re Not Serious: Work to rule is worse for passengers than a particular strike date. At least passengers have a heads up their flight is cancelled with a strike…… It’s Russian roulette with the WTR. Anxiety for every EI passenger as opposed to just those affected on the strike date.

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    Mute john logan
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    Jun 22nd 2024, 10:59 AM

    To the pilots on the forum and there be many, three questions already posed multiple times without reply. Let’s see if we can do better this morning.

    Do you guys use the free parking at Dublin airport for personal trips, holidays abroad and the like?

    If a pilot prefers to use public transport to travel to the airport can they allow a third party to avail of it?

    Do any pilots earn a 2nd income in this way ?

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