IAG group member Aer Lingus will not employ 129 people at the Shannon base between March 8, 2021 and probably June 7, 2021. During this period, those affected will not receive any salary. If necessary, they can apply for assistance at the employment office.

Aer Lingus' approach is very reminiscent of the practice that is common in construction. Many companies deregister their employees over the winter. They then receive unemployment benefits and the employees are hired again in the spring. In some companies this procedure is repeated every year.

Aer Lingus is now doing a similar thing, which is driving the unions to white heat. Among other things, the employee representatives criticize the fact that the employees already receive greatly reduced wages and now even less in the form of unemployment benefits. Aer Lingus, however, maintains that it has not been able to operate any flights from the Shannon base since April 2020 and that there is no prospect of improvement before July 2021. For financial reasons, you have no other choice.