The Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) has appointed its own consultants to advise it regarding Aer Lingus and its forthcoming strategic alliance. The State airline was mandated by the last Government to come up with proposals for strategic alliance.

However, the process has taken a back seat to the current negotiations on the sale of TEAM. Aer Lingus is selling the aircraft maintenance subsidiary to the Danish-based group FLS.

The pilots' association expects to submit its own proposals to the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, shortly after Aer Lingus submits its recommendations. IALPA president, Mr Dermot Moran, whose organisation represents all 350 pilots in Aer Lingus, said last night that the association would not necessarily be opposing the Aer Lingus recommendations. He said IALPA felt it was a very important issue and his members would be very concerned regarding what company would become an alliance partner and what their plans for Aer Lingus would be.

The association has appointed business consultants Farrell Grant Sparks and the economic and financial analysis department of the US Airline Pilots Association (USALPA) to advise them.