Aer Lingus pilots have begun an indefinite work-to-rule action, resulting in the cancellation of 270 flights.
The industrial action, which started at midnight, sees pilots refusing to work overtime, accept changes to set rosters, or take on out-of-hours management requests. An eight-hour strike is also planned for Saturday. Tens of thousands of passengers' travel plans have been disrupted, with the airline offering refunds or alternative flights to those affected.
A resolution to the ongoing pay dispute seems unlikely as the Irish Labour Court has stated it will not intervene at this time. The airline and the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (Ialpa), a branch of the Forsa trade union, have accused each other of not engaging in discussions.
The pilots are demanding a 24% pay rise, claiming it matches inflation since their last increase in 2019. Aer Lingus has offered a 12.5% pay rise, conditional on discussions about "improvements in productivity and flexibility".
Both parties attended separate meetings at the Labour Court in Dublin on Tuesday to discuss the industrial stand-off. Following its meeting, Aer Lingus expressed disappointment that the court could not currently assist in resolving the dispute.
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"Aer Lingus has made it clear that it remains available for discussions both directly and through the state's industrial relations framework," the airline's statement added.
"Aer Lingus will continue to focus on minimising the disruption caused to customers by Ialpa's industrial action. Aer Lingus is calling upon Forsa/Ialpa to consider the damage that its continued industrial action is inflicting upon passengers, the company and the Irish economy."
Ialpa president Mark Tighe, speaking outside court, confirmed the action would go ahead. "The actions continue as they are notified and will continue until there is a resolution," he said.
Irish premier Simon Harris has urged both sides to "dig deep" in an attempt to find a solution. The Taoiseach stressed it is "absolutely vital" that both parties engage in talks to reach a resolution.
"My challenge to the parties now is to bring that engagement forward, rather than putting people through a prolonged period of agony and chaos, and then engaging in the end anyway," Mr Harris stated on Tuesday.
"This dispute will be settled the same way every dispute is settled: compromise, engagement, sitting around a table. That's what needs to happen." He warned there would be "very little sympathy" for anyone involved in cancelling family holidays and disrupting the tourism sector if they are not engaging "intensively".
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