Aer Lingus cuts number of flights from summer schedule

A number of Aer Lingus flights have been cancelled from its summer schedule due to "mandatory maintenance on aircraft", the airline has said, adding that the "vast majority of customers" are being accommodated on same-day services.

It added that "a limited number" of adjustments have been made to the schedule.

Aer Lingus said the changes apply to around 2% of its overall schedule.

It comes after the Sunday Independent reported that "more than 500" Aer Lingus flights are being cut.

The Irish Travel Agents Association said it is aware that Aer Lingus has been "sending out cancellation notices for the past few weeks".

In a statement, its CEO Clare Dunne said: "Passengers are being rebooked on alternative flights the day before, the day after or offered other change or refunds."
"Travel agents are as always working through these changes with their customers to ensure least possible disruption," she added.

Aer Lingus not suffering from a 'fuel cost problem' - IALPA
Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) president Mark Tighe said Aer Lingus has previously cancelled flights in a similar situation before and added that he believes it is due to a shortage of pilots.

He said pilots are frequently being contacted on their days off and asked to work.

Mr Tighe said this year, the company was unable to grant all of the annual leave that pilots are contractually entitled to due to shortages.

He also said the airline is not suffering from a "fuel cost problem" because Aer Lingus hedges its aviation fuel with other International Airlines Group companies.

Meanwhile, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said Ireland's aviation supplies are "robust".

Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, he said: "Refined products, like aviation fuel, there is a large dependence on product across the world through and from the Middle East."
He said Ireland receives its jet fuel from the United States.

"Our supplies are robust.

We have a 70-day reserve," Mr O’Brien added.

He said there has been an increase in the price of aviation fuel and airlines "will make decisions seperate to Government".

Price of jet fuel may be significant issue in short term, Taoiseach says
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that pricing of jet fuel may be a significant issue in the short term but he said he does not envisage shortages.

"Prices will be a significant issue, I believe, even jet fuel in the short term.

"But when we spoke to Nora and its executives, they said to us that we do have 70 days reserves, but there are other challenges around jet fuel and the supply chain dimension to that, but we'll be okay in the medium term," he said.

"The airlines are saying they're doing some of that from a maintenance perspective, but we would keep it under constant review."