Talks in Aer Lingus pilot dispute are making progress, court hears

High Court Reporter

Talks to try to resolve a dispute between an Aer Lingus pilot, who was suspended from the company's now-closed Manchester base, are making progress, the High Court heard.

Captain Ian Blair was suspended on pay last November to allow for an investigation into a complaint that he had required cabin crew, who were on a "positioning flight" from Barbados to Manchester, to sit in economy rather than business class.

There were no passengers on the flight.

There had been industrial action by Aer Lingus cabin crew in Manchester at this time for higher pay. The cabin crew on the Barbados flight did not take part in the industrial action.

The company brought disciplinary proceedings against him claiming he did not comply with an instruction from a chief operations officer to allow the cabin crew to sit in business class.

He in turn brought High Court proceedings against Aer Lingus Ltd and Aer Lingus UK Ltd over what he said was the airline's insistence that he would have to remain in the UK while those disciplinary proceedings against him continued even though he said it had been agreed he would transfer to Dublin.

He later brought a separate court application for an order that he be allowed to sit a retraining course for pilots transferred from Manchester to Dublin.

The retraining course matter was due to be heard last month when the court was told that it had been agreed between the parties to go to mediation.

On Friday, Cathy Smith, for Captain Blair, told Judge Brian Cregan that as a result of the court facilitating the parties in the mediation talks on a number of occasions, they had achieved progress.

She said it was "very complex and we are not there yet" but further time until next week was being sought.

The judge agreed to adjourn the matter to Tuesday.