Irish pilots on strike! Since Wednesday 26 June, and until Sunday 30 June in principle, the pilots of the Aer Lingus company have refused any change in the duty rosters and to work overtime. Their objective: to obtain a 24% salary increase. That’s almost 50,000 euros extra per year. And in total, that’s 35,000 passengers grounded.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Dublin, Clemence Pénard
Nearly 300 flights have been canceled. Like that of Jennie Corcoran, who was due to be reunited with her family in New York today.
“ I booked my flight months in advance and they canceled it at the last minute », she exclaims. “ It put a damper on my plans. The country really relies on Aer Lingus for flights to the United States: these are direct flights and at the best prices. So when they cancel all their flights, you don’t have a lot of other ways to leave… »
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More flights grounded
And the strike also affects many Swiftiesfans of American superstar Taylor Swift. She is giving three concerts this weekend in Dublin. So, in order to arrive at her destination on time, this fan, interviewed by RTE, found an alternative solution.
“ I’m on several groups on social media about Taylor’s Dublin gigs, people spent hours and hours making their costumes and now they can’t come. “, she explains. “ So far our flight has not been cancelled. But we have booked the overnight ferry to Dublin from Hollyhead, costing us £300 on top of what we have already spent! »
Tomorrow, an eight-hour strike is expected to ground more flights. Aer Lingus management has said it is prepared to offer pay rises of 12.5%.