Threatened industrial action by Aer Lingus staff prior to the June bank holiday weekend in Ireland has hit forward bookings, the airline revealed today.
In a trading update this morning, the airline said: “The unwarranted 24 hour industrial action by the Impact trade union, deliberately timed to occur just before the seasonally important June bank holiday weekend in Ireland, has considerably damaged Aer Lingus’s forward booking profile.
“Impact has also indicated to Aer Lingus that it will issue further notice of industrial action in due course.
“Management’s current assessment is that the adverse effect of the strike called for 30 May will offset the potential revenue gains which would otherwise have been realised by Aer Lingus.”
The Irish carrier said that further announcements will be made “as appropriate”.
Aer Lingus said that it traded positively in April, with short-haul, long-haul and retail all performing strongly in the month.
Total revenues generated in the month were substantially ahead of previous year even allowing for the timing of Easter, which fell at the end of March in 2013.
Aer Lingus’s operating result for the month was “significantly ahead” of management’s expectations.