Last-ditch talks aimed at averting widespread disruption at Aer Lingus resumed yesterday in Dublin.
Negotiations broke down in the early hours of Saturday morning in the row over pilot rosters.
Flight crew had warned they would begin work an hour late from tomorrow (Tuesday), which would throw the carrier’s schedule into chaos.
Fresh talks were held at Ireland’s Labour Relations Commission where it was reported that significant progress had been made on short term roster issues that pilots had objected to.
Contingency plans have been put in place by the airline, with more than 30,000 passengers expected to be affected by the industrial action if it goes ahead.
Travellers have been offered the option of changing flights to earlier or later travel dates, or cancelling bookings free of charge.
The airline is also understood to have considered leasing aircraft and crews to keep some of the timetable operating.
There are fears of industrial action by Aer Lingus pilots spreading to the airline’s bases in the UK, if the talks fail to reach agreement on rosters.
Michael Landers of the IMPACT trade union said pilots in Belfast and Gatwick have also voted by an overwhelmingly majority to take strike action.
The airline’s head of group human resources Michael Grealy said: “We’re here to make sure that Aer Lingus can fly this week, that’s what we’re interested in doing.
“We’ve 30,000 passengers who we’d like to have in the air and at their destinations on Tuesday.”