Aer Lingus plans to cut up to 500 jobs due to the aviation crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, as Sinn Fein called on the Government to intervene.
The national carrier announced on Friday that the crisis was having a “catastrophic” effect on the industry, adding that it is currently operating less than 5% of its normal schedule.
Aer Lingus said that much remains uncertain - and said Ireland has “failed” to take steps to restore air travel.
It added that current challenges are being exacerbated by Ireland’s 14-day quarantine rule for arriving passengers and the Government’s advice against all non-essential travel.
Aer Lingus said in a statement: “Ireland has failed to take steps that other European Member States have taken that have progressively restored transport services and connectivity in response to a European Commission invitation to do so.
“The requirement to reduce the size of the airline in response to the crisis means that today Aer Lingus has issued a notification to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection regarding proposed collective redundancies in the airline.”
Fórsa, the union representing cabin crew, pilots and certain management staff at Aer Lingus, confirmed Friday that it would engage with the airline’s management regarding the proposed redundancies.
But Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke on Friday night called on the Government to intervene in the escalating crisis.
Mr O’Rourke said: “The pandemic has obviously had a major impact on the airline industry, but the Government here has taken a complete hands-off approach to dealing with it.
“The Government needs to intervene in this situation and use their influence to protect workers, their jobs and their pay and conditions.
