Pilots' strike could knock up to €170m off Aer Lingus profits, says Barclays

The airline was forced to cancel at least 224 flights this week, with more expected

IAG chief executive Luis Gallego

John Mulligan

The industrial action by pilots could knock as much as €170m off Aer Lingus earnings in the current year, according to a leading airline analyst. This would represent a 75pc slump on the €225m operating profit generated last year.

However, Aer Lingus owner IAG will not want to be seen as a “soft touch” on labour issues as it tries to seal the acquisition of Spanish carrier Air Europa, according to Andrew Lobbenberg, the head of European transport equity research at Barclays.