Aer Lingus today said that it was deeply disturbed at the statement in a letter received from IMPACT that the union representing Aer Lingus pilots fails to see the relevance of the Aer Lingus Survival Plan.

This statement by IMPACT is totally at variance with the views of the vast majority of Aer Lingus staff who have voted for and implemented change in accordance with the Survival Plan. It is also at variance with the process facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission including the ruling of an independent agreed arbitrator.

Aer Lingus has consistently maintained that full implementation of the Survival Plan is vital for the future viability of the company.

As a result of strike action by pilots on Thursday 30th May and their ongoing refusal to co-operate with the full implementation of the Survival Plan, Aer Lingus will not be in a position to recommence operations on Friday 31st May. This position will be kept under review on a daily basis.

Aer Lingus regrets having to make this decision and the consequent disruption to our customers. It has been made inevitable by the disruption caused by Thursday`s strike, the ongoing threat of further action and the written confirmation from IMPACT that the pilots will continue to refuse to implement the arbitration rulings on the airline`s Survival Plan. The IMPACT letter went on to say that the union fails to see the relevance of the Aer Lingus Survival Plan.

Aer Lingus will issue regular bulletins on its operating plans.

For more information call, 0818 365000 (from Ireland) or 1-800-IRISH AIR (from the US)

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