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Aer Lingus may quit Republic of Ireland, move base to Belfast or London

By
WALLACE SQUIRREL
,
IrishCentral.com Business Correspondent

Published Friday, November 20, 2009, 6:39 PM
Updated Saturday, November 21, 2009, 9:00 AM

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Aer Lingus may quit Republic of Ireland, move base to Belfast or London | Irish News | IrishCentral




Read more: Aer Lingus Group plc, Air Transportation, Airlines, Passenger Air Transportation, Passenger Transportation, Transportation and Logistics Sector, United Kingdom, Belfast, London (England)
Aer Lingus may be planning long-haul trip out of Republic
Aer Lingus may be planning long-haul trip out of Republic

Aer Lingus may quit the Republic and move its operations to London or Belfast — in order to cut costs and stave off union problems.

Aer Lingus has applied to the UK's civil aviation authority for a UK operating license, according to The Wall Street Journal. This means that the airline could legally move its corporate headquarters to Belfast or London — lock, stock, and barrel.

That would allow it to essentially start over and force workers to reapply for their jobs under the new Aer Lingus UK rubric.

Currently, Aer Lingus is in tough negotiations with its unions to cut 676 jobs through voluntary layoffs. The company says it needs to make $150 million in savings by the end of 2011 to stay alive.

Aer Lingus has warned that if it doesn't get the labor cuts  by Nov. 30, it will look at a different plan to shrink the airline with compulsory layoffs and a reduction in routes.

Aer Lingus has a huge issue with it long-haul pilots, who make up to $500,000 a year on the Atlantic route and have golden pension plans as well. Ryanair pilots, by comparison, are only paid half that amount.

By relocating to Belfast or Gatwick, the airline could force all those pilots to reapply to the new entity. It remains to be seen however, if
such a drastic move will be necessary.

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Aer Lingus may quit Republic of Ireland, move base to Belfast or London | Irish News | IrishCentral


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Report abuse
Posted by kickstar on Nov 23, 2009, 08:35 PM EST
I used to work for Aer Lingus on the Ramp at Dublin Airport I also had 11 cousins working for them at one time. They used to be a great company to work for before they introduced (and I have to say with the acquiescence of the Unions) Yellow packs where any new starts were deprived of the great range of benefits that older employees had and by the Unions allowing this small thin end of the wedge at that time finally spiraled out of control to lead to where they find themselves today. Its all the unions fault they Sold out
Report abuse
Posted by Aequalitas on Nov 22, 2009, 02:34 PM EST
For the benefit of Mike7571 and like-minded people out there. When you are bracing yourself for an emergency landing with a 99 cent flight ticket in your back pocket don't feel sorry for yourself because you will have contributed to the situation. However You can console yourself by reminding yourself how much you saved on your "Bargain Price Ticket" as you hit the ground at 800 MPH .
Report abuse
Posted by Mike7571 on Nov 21, 2009, 03:20 PM EST
The unions strike again!
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Posted by Aequalitas on Nov 21, 2009, 03:06 PM EST
This "race to the bottom" will end in disaster. When the frequency of Aircraft losses increase to one per week due to Air Accidents the Accountants will be forced to admit they got it wrong. By then it will be too late, lives will be lost. Example AF 447.
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Posted by Rebelforce on Nov 21, 2009, 10:53 AM EST
The Irish should make it clear that if Aer Lingus abandons Ireland the Irish will BOYCOTT that air line FOREVER. The only thing these greedy people understand is MONEY. Start organizing a BOYCOTT AER LINGUS campaign immediately.
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Posted by kickstar on Nov 21, 2009, 02:28 AM EST
The demise of our National Airline is just another nail in the very things that are ours that are as Irish as the Shamrock,And it is another thing that I will blame this pillock Cowen for, This should be a warning to All Irish people to never let a Farmer Govern your Nation. Send him back to his pigs where he belongs.


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