Belfast To Soar Above Aer Lingus Strike

Proposed strike action by staff at the former state-run Irish airline, Aer Lingus may not ground flights from the newly opened Belfast International Airport 'hub'.

Aer Lingus has insisted that passengers flying on its services to and from Belfast would not be affected by proposed industrial action.

The reassurance follows the announcement by Siptu, the largest trade union at the Irish flag carrier, that it is to ballot for all-out industrial action in the event that the airline tries to impose cuts and up to 1,500 job redundancies through outsourcing and redeployment.

The Impact trade union has also said it will oppose the cost-saving plan put forward by management at Aer Lingus. Impact described the proposal as "severe and draconian" and said it would begin consulting with members on their reaction.

However, while the airline's bases in the Republic will bear the brunt of any action, Aer Lingus insisted that its NI passengers would remain unaffected.

The new base - opened in Belfast last December - is being staffed under different arrangements to its other bases with the latest dispute set to take take-off as the company attempts to replicate staffing arrangements at the Co Antrim airport at Dublin, Cork and Shannon.

The airline's plans - which were announced on Monday - include outsourcing ground operations, cargo and catering services at Dublin and ground operations at Cork.

Up to 280 jobs could be lost at Shannon, where ground and cargo services will be outsourced and cabin crews axed.

US-based staff will also be hired to work on board long-haul services from America, and just under 20 cabin crew workers based at Heathrow Airport will be affected by the move.

Options offered to staff include voluntary severance, early retirement package, or a transfer to the new service provider.

Airline Chief Executive, Dermot Mannion said the cuts were necessary in the current circumstances to ensure the airlines' continued viability.

However, last month, there were doubts expressed over whether or not the Aer Lingus Board was fully supporative of the planned cutbacks, with even the Irish government said to have expressed concerns over the plan.

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan was said to have been expressing her concerns about the cost-saving measures.

The Chairman of Aer Lingus said at the time that that the company's board was "unanimous" behind the plan to cut costs at the airline - although union sources claimed the carrier's chiefs were "far from decided, let alone unanimous".

However, they dismissed reports that the Board was split over the controversial plan and there was "absolute unanimity at an eight hour board meeting over proposals which are to include the outsourcing of ground operations in Shannon, Cork and Dublin".

On a more positive note, Aer Lingus has this afternoon announced a deal with United Airlines to operate a codeshare agreement.

Aer Lingus customers will be able to access United Airlines' entire extensive US network from April 2009, and customers will be able to book connecting flights with United through any of the six airports that Aer Lingus flies into in the US.

See: Aer Lingus Cost-Cutting Questioned

See: Aer Lingus Does A Little Networking With United Airlines

(BMcC)