Minister won’t intervene as Aer Lingus dispute worsens with 124 flights cancelled and strike called by pilots

Dozens of flights to be cancelled by Aer Lingus as pilots stage industrial action

John Mulligan

Enterprise Minister Peter Burke will not intervene in the worsening dispute between Aer Lingus and its main pilots’ union as the airline last night cancelled more than 100 flights that were scheduled for next week.

The plans of tens of thousands of passengers have been thrown into further chaos as pilots declared a full-scale day of strike action in addition to the open-ended work-to-rule beginning on Wednesday, saying they had been provoked into the escalation by management.