Redundancies at Aer Lingus

[Flyingstig]

Is there any truth to the press speculation / reports that there will be pilot redundancies at AL?

There was a thread started a couple of days along these lines on `Rumours` but it seems to have disappeared.
The same thing happened to a thread started by Leo several weeks ago that revealed some staggering info re some of the salaries being paid to their senior pilots!

Is this some sort of `no-go area`? Perhaps the Mods can enlighten us.

This is a subject of great interest, especially when you consider the suggestion that they intend to utilise the lower costs in UK!

Throw in a bit of MOL bidding, and it strikes me it could be the thread of the year!!

[Jetdriver]

The thread you are referring to in Rumours & News can be found as part of this 2275+ post thread in Airlines Airports & Routes (search is your friend.) The other thread was deleted by the author, c'est la vie!

[Callsign Kilo]

The line from the Irish Times read that EI were looking to make costsavings via 676 voluntary redundancies by 2011. This included 100 pilot redundancies. Currently over 100 staff are to be cut at SNN due to the direct transatlantic services being cut. Restructuring plans are being presented at bases outside DUB. I would imagine DUB has it's own restructuring plan yet to be presented, especially due to it's high cost base. Their finance director has been on record to say that BFS and LGW pilot and cabin crew are between 40-50% cheaper than their Irish based colleagues.

[Jet A1]

But unfortunately I would suggest that they would have to use Last In First Out when it comes to compulsory redundancies so would suggest LGW will feel the pinch.

[smudgethecat]

Why would they have to use last in first out? in fact a recent ruling decided it could actually be seen as discimination against younger employees to use it, as it clearly favours older employees who are more likely to have been with the company longer

[Jet A1]

I assume there still is a master Seniority List which covers every pilot regardless of base and as a result that would be formed by Date Of Joining.

I worked for them several years ago and after 9/11 that was the system they decided on when they were looking for compulsory redundancies. On that occasion enough of us took voluntary severance. Back then were jobs though, easyJet and Go took lots of guys on.

It would be interesting if Aer Lingus decided to exclusively enforce redundancy at DUB only and leave the 'cheaper' employees alone at LGW and BFS who have only several months worth of service.

[Bearcat]

whats the rumour astraeus are being lined up by AL to use their uk aoc as a union bust?? G reg AL planes??

[samsara]

samsara

True - although union busting is your interpretation Some people in ei in bfs think its a great idea

[Puritan]

Astraeus have a solid history of providing 'low cost' capacity for 'high cost' airlines,e.g. British Airways, Briitsh Midland, FlyBE, Sterling, plus a whole host of others too! All underpinned by a highly experienced management team... and never fogetting its own in-house Irish connections!

[Love_joy]

so would suggest LGW will feel the pinch.

Interesting situation for the LGW crews. I may be mistaken, but am I right in thinking they were brought in on different T&C's anyway - more favourable to the current climate.

By dumping these guys out, they would have enforce moves on crews from others bases to fill the gaps, surely not the 'ideal' solution. The unions will no doubt have an oar to stick in somewhere here.

Good luck to all in AL at present. Bizarrely I wish I was in your shoes... but I'll have to push tin elsewhere for the moment

[Kirks gusset]

Well, It's good news for Astraeus, nice to see the company expanding and seeing the potential in the market. The AL unions have been so strong for years, lets not hope strike actions start or there could be a lot more routes on ACMI operations. I don't think you should see AEU as " Union Busters" at least the routes will still be AL, if they let them go.. well we all know the rest!

[Lord Lardy]

Come the end of this consultation period I predict a pilot shortage in Aer Lingus not an excess. The company, even up to yesterday have been ringing around to see if anyone fancied moving to Washington for a year to start up the new base. Up to five more aircraft bound for Gatwick next summer, to be followed by a rumoured total of 16 aircraft eventually. Rumoured new routes to Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Chicago and other routes outside of Europe require a local AOC and hence the Astreaus involvment. The current operation in the UK under their Irish AOC does not legally allow for this type of expansion to non European countries. It will take up to six months to get their own, as they have indicated publically this week. The chief executive has also indicated that he is anxious to join one of the Airline Alliance groups once again.

A highly debatable and round figure surplus of 100 is immediately reduced taking the 30 or so pilots in the company going through the command process for the current base in Gatwick which to date has four aircraft and only four captains. Many others, rumours of up to 60 captains and FO's heading off to Etihad, Air China with a Sydney base and Vietnam Airlines where many of the younger pilots are heading for a three year stint. Vietnam has always been a popular contract airline for many in the company with some going back for a second time. Aer Lingus reserve the right to call these pilots back earlier if required. Only last week Etihad came over and held a pilot recruitment open day for positions on the A330 and A320 which was organised by Aer Lingus and held in the company head office. Personally I'm delighted the new Chief Executive is finally looking to the future. He appears to have a plan, something that has been lost for want of a better word in the past few years. For too long the company has had its hands tied with old civil service type practices from all staff from being state owned for so many years. Now sees a opportunity to slim the excessive cost base and line itself up for expansion going into the future. There aren't too many current pilots in the company that would disagree despite the all too often negative press.