The crew were called on to strike again today by the Independent Flight Attendants Organisation. The dispute centres on a pay rise and the use of temporary cabin staff.
Ryanair described the situation as a “DAA monopoly” – but Dublin Airport says that under the regulator’s formula, there is an increase in next year’s price cap, but it has decided not to pass this on to passengers.
Leo Varadkar has announced that €5.9 million additional funding will be made available for regional airports next year, but that funding would only be given to the airports at Donegal, Knock Ireland West, Kerry and Waterford.
Passengers breathe a sigh of relief as the skies look clear for the next 36 hours at least. Ryanair, Aer Lingus and all the major carriers are operating normal schedules.
Several EU member states had indicated they were not willing to comply with the lifting of the ban that was due to come into place today, citing security concerns.
Nine things you need to know by 9am: President McAleese gives France and Germany a slap on the wrists, the poignant tale of an elderly man who arrived in hospital with a small fortune strapped to his body and the story of Bear-ack Obama.
AN AIRPORT STRIKE threatened for six airports in the UK this month has been called off.
Thousands of passengers at Heathrow, Stansted, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports would have been affected by the strike.
The strike was cancelled after a day of talks between the Unite trade union, representing airport engineers and ground staff, and the BAA. BAA runs the airports.
After nine hours of negotiations, a new pay offer was presented to the union. Workers had rejected a previous pay deal, but are now being urged to accept the new agreement.
BAA said it was pleased that an agreement on pay was reached that is “fair to staff but which also reflects the difficult economic climate.”
GROUND STAFF at British operator BAA has voted to strike following a dispute over pay.
The news will be a concern for passengers who are booked to fly through Heathrow, Stansted, Glasgow, and Edinburgh airports.
The Unite trade union, which represents the ground staff at BAA, says that it will meet with key representatives on Monday to discuss what form the action is likely to take.
Despite British Prime Minister David Cameron saying that strike would be damaging to the ecomony the union remains firm on its resolve, saying that staff have already accepted many unfavourable cuts. Staff accepted a pay freeze in 2009, and this year the BAA offered staff a 1% rise, plus 0.5%, which was conditional on changes to a sickness agreement.
Unite says that it also wants workers to receive a performance-related bonus, which it says BAA promised to staff if the company reached a certain financial target.
Similarly, the smaller Prospect union said 53% of its members had voted in favour of strike action. Prospect represents around 100 BAA workers based at Heathrow, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Southampton and Stansted airports.
MICHAEL O’LEARY is sure to be chuckling away to himself, as the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has today been slapped on the wrist.
The DAA has failed to meet two out of 13 quality targets, set for it by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, and as a consequence, something that will really please the low cost airline – the DAA will be forced to drop airport charges.
The DAA failed to ensure that passengers spend less than 30 minutes queueing at a security checkpoint. On several occassions it was noted that passengers queued over the limit – up to 34minutes at one stage.
The airport also failed in satisfying passengers need for phone and internet facilities at the airport.
A spokesman for the Commission for Aviation Regulation said the amount of reduction in the maximum airport charge was minimal – around 1 cent per passenger – but that this was the first time airport charges were being partly based on quality standards.
