Labour Court talks to avert Easter holiday travel chaos were adjourned early this morning after 16 hours of talks. Neither side in the Aer Lingus dispute would comment as the talks broke up at 2.30 a.m.
However, some progress was indicated in a remark from a senior SIPTU representative that there was still some time left before the company had to warn the travelling public of an impending strike. "Like the Northern talks, nothing can be certain until final agreement is reached."
Directors of Aer Lingus were warned yesterday that profits this year will fall to £15 million from £60 million in 2000, according to the latest company estimates.
A special board meeting of the airline heard that a spate of strikes, foot-and-mouth disease in Britain and a slowdown in the US economy were causing a severe downturn in business.
The Labour Court intervened in the dispute which threatened to ground its fleet on Thursday. At the hearing SIPTU challenged the gloomy picture presented by management. The airline said any further deterioration in market conditions would have the "most serious" consequences on its profitability.
SIPTU insisted the airline's management was attempting to "further fuel" a difficult set of circumstances at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports by creating an impression of a company "on the brink of disaster". It was just 16 days since the chief executive had told general managers that the company was "never in a better state".
Union delivers stinging attack on Aer Lingus at Labour Court; Aer Lingus faces £45 million fall in profits: page 5