In response to ongoing industrial action by pilots over pay, Aer Lingus has announced the cancellation of an additional 80 flights. The airline stated that these cancellations, scheduled between July 11 and July 14, are aimed at safeguarding as many services as possible amidst the ongoing dispute.

Aer Lingus has reassured affected passengers that they will be contacted regarding refund and rebooking options. The pilots, who are represented by the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (Ialpa), initiated a work-to-rule protest on June 26, effectively refusing to work overtime or perform any out-of-hours duties.

Earlier this week, Aer Lingus already revealed the cancellation of 76 flights between the upcoming Monday and Wednesday. As a consequence of this prolonged dispute, hundreds of flights have been cancelled, severely impacting the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers.

The pilots initially demanded a 24% pay increase, arguing that their salaries have not kept pace with inflation since their last pay raise in 2019. However, it has been reported that Aer Lingus is seeking adjustments to the pilots' working conditions before agreeing to any pay increase exceeding 12.25%.

Despite the effort to resolve the disagreement, a hearing held by the Irish Labour Court last week failed to reach an agreement. Although Ialpa offered to lower its pay demand from 24%, the air carrier is accused of not reciprocating the gesture.

In another attempt to find resolution, the Labour Court issued a fresh invitation for both parties to attend a meeting on Monday. The meeting lasted more than eight hours, and representatives from Aer Lingus and Ialpa are now awaiting a recommendation from the court. Meanwhile, the work-to-rule protest by Ialpa members continues, as the court has urged against any further escalation of the dispute.

Aer Lingus has taken steps to alleviate the concerns of affected customers, offering them the option to change their flights free of charge. Additionally, impacted travelers will be eligible for refunds or vouchers, according to the airline. These alternatives will be communicated directly to affected customers.

Amidst the industrial action, nearly 500 flight cancellations have occurred so far, causing inconvenience to passengers traveling to destinations such as Liverpool, East Midlands, and Exeter, who have been redirected to nearby airports.

The Labour Court will reconvene on Wednesday in an effort to bring an end to the ongoing pay dispute between Aer Lingus and its pilots.