Aer Lingus was and still is, albeit to a lesser degree, nothing more than an employment agency for Ireland. A model of nepotism. A hangout for the brown shoe brigade of ex Irish Aer Corps (a 172, Fuga Mag. and a GIV).
Unable to compete on the transAtlantic with the likes of Delta, Continental and any other carrier trying to bring tourists to the Emerald Isle, Aer Fungus is going down the same sink hole as Sabena. Both overstaffed and overcompensated.
It was not too long ago that the aviators at the Shamrock were demanding the same pay as their "brothers" in AA because this Yankie carrier was part of the Aer Lingus Alliance! Such logic. Regardless of the size of AA in comparrison to the Shamrock, the brown shoe boys felt that they were worth te same because they carried American Airlines passengers!!!! Such logic. Now they threaten to strike because the airline is cutting staff along with EVERY OTHER AIRLINE in the world. I suppose the brown shoe brigade or the railway labor leaders running the union at Aer Lingus think that they are going to win public support on this one!!! HAHAHA
If I were the pilots (the select pilots) at Aer Lingus I would choose my battles very carefully. But then again I am not an Aer lingus aviator nor do I have an Aer Corps pension.... <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">