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TRADE UNION FÓRSA has said it is seeking an urgent meeting with Aer Lingus management following the confirmation that it is to cease two routes from Belfast City Airport next year.
The airline operates flights from Belfast to Malaga in Spain and Faro in Portugal but a decision has been taken that these will not continue next year following a “commercial review”.
Aer Lingus operates daily flights between Belfast and London Heathrow and the airline is committing to maintaining this route but Fórsa has said members are worried about their job security in the airport.
Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said Aer Lingus staff based in Belfast found out about the axing of the routes from media reports.
“The company’s failure to engage with their own staff, to keep them informed of decisions that affect their livelihood, damages the credibility of the airline,” Connolly said this evening.
The representative said unions have been attempting to engage with the company over a new deal for staff at the base and that the two routes were to be part of discussions before the news they are to be cut.
“It’s hard not to conclude that Aer Lingus management has a complete disregard for our members in Belfast. It’s extremely disappointing that the company has not sought to engage with us on their behalf,” Connolly added.
It was previously announced that Ryanair was also cutting a number of routes from Belfast with three Polish cities no longer being serviced from the hub as well as flights to Malta.
Separately, Cathay Pacific announced earlier that it was to suspend its four-times weekly Dublin to Hong Kong service for the winter.
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They’d been using the old air contractors 737 on the summer routes the last few years. Clearly not a viable commercial operation and Forsa seem to think money grows on trees, they need to get a grip that lot and stay out of Ireland’s airlines.
@Darren Bates: Aer Lingus don’t use 737′s. All their fleet are Airbus.
@Adrian O’Donnell: nope they have some old Boeing on lend
@Adrian O’Donnell: 757 https://www.aerlingus.com/experience-aer-lingus/our-aircraft/
@Adrian O’Donnell: they got a 737 on ACMI to use on these routes!
Is Fórsa the Irish for ‘closing the stable door after the horse has bolted’?
Can anyone give me an example of when a union has been positive for an organisation
@john s: Who wants a 5 day week, paid holidays and breaks anyways.
@Bryan Yelahw: the law covers all that. So again are there any examples of unions helping an organisation.
@john s: The legislation was not created in a vacum. By organisation do you mean a company? Plenty of companies have a good relationship with unions. What do you mean by help? It’s easy to throw around vague questions that a reasonable person might agree with but add nothing to discussion. I take it you have some gripe with unions. Maybe explain why you think they are bad.
@Bryan Yelahw: plenty of companies have good relationships with unions. Wow u are insightful. Name three . I bet they will be all public sector too.
@john s: A union is made up of its members. It deals with lots of issues. Mostly are local with local reps dealing with local management where issues are addressed. It’s a good working relationship. So would naming three really prove anything?
@Bryan Yelahw: so u cannot thanks
Can only hope that this will mean some restoration of short haul routes from Shannon.
@Alan McLoughlin:
Forsa have a great track record in Irish airlines haven’t they???
With so many bus connections from Belfast to Dublin Airport it makes many Belfast flights unviable.
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