Aer Lingus offers to meet pilots ahead of industrial action this week

Aer Lingus has offered to meet pilots to try to resolve their dispute, days before industrial action begins.

Both sides described the move as “positive” and said they were hopeful that they could meet this week.

The more conciliatory tone came after tense exchanges between Aer Lingus and pilots represented by the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa).

Aer Lingus has called the pilots’ industrial action “insidious” and compared it with “blackmail”, while pilots accused the company of threats and “antagonism”.

The pilots, who are looking for a pay rise, had balloted to take part in a work-to-rule action. Their representatives said this would involve pilots not engaging in overtime or out-of-hours duties over five days from Wednesday.

The airline said it would prepare by cancelling 124 flights, affecting 20,000 customers, over the five days.

Shortly after the airline confirmed which flights were cancelled on Friday, an eight-hour strike was announced by…