Talks between Aer Lingus management and representatives of its pilots over the company's plans to establish a new base in Belfast were adjourned last night. The parties spent several hours in talks yesterday at an undisclosed location in Northern Ireland.
A spokesman for the trade union Impact said the talks would resume again at a future date. The union did not comment on the content of the talks. Aer Lingus also declined to comment.
The union is seeking a role in negotiating the pay and conditions for pilots at the base to be established by Aer Lingus in Belfast from later this year.
It is understood that another issue under discussion is the airline's plans to recruit aircraft captains for its Belfast operation through direct entry competition.
Talks between the airline and representatives of its pilots have been under way for a number of weeks now in an effort to resolve the row over the new Belfast base. Last month the pilots threatened to go on strike for 48 hours in protest at the company's decision to recruit new staff in Belfast on terms which they maintained would be less favourable than those applying in the Republic of Ireland.
On Wednesday the Labour Court said that when it recommended that the company should be allowed to recruit cabin crew at foreign bases at local rates it meant any location outside of its jurisdiction in the Republic.