Passenger threatening class action on Aer Lingus

A London-based Aer Lingus passenger is attempting to co-ordinate a class action against the airline, after it grounded its fleet this weekend.

The passenger hopes to bring together passengers from Ireland, the UK and the US, as well as businesses, including Bed & Breakfast operators, hotels, travel agents and car hire firms.

As yet the passenger does not have legal representation, but he told ireland.comhe hoped to receive backing from lawyers in pursuit of a damages claim.

"The immediate requirement is to get the fleet off the ground", he said.

An email account (aerlingusclassaction@hotmail.com) has been set up to gather the names of businesses and individuals interested in pursuing the case against the ailing state airline.

The company has grounded its fleet because it claims it cannot operate with the threat of disruption after a one-day strike by pilots. The pilots - who were protesting at the suspension of seven colleagues who refused to take on new work practices proposed by an independent consultant - say the company's actions amount to a "lock-out".

Both sides in the dispute are holding talks at the Labour Court today, but the fleet will remain grounded until Tuesday at the earliest.

The passenger said that Aer Lingus management "have not restarted scheduled operations at the earliest opportunity, which is increasing the resultant damages every hour the fleet is grounded.

He said affected passengers "continue to be treated by Aer Lingus in a derisory manner"; have not received offers of compensation; and refunds on cancelled flights are subject to delay.

"Clearly the Aer Lingus management hope to ‘divide and rule’ the passengers and other damaged parties, however I can assure them that class actions are already initiated. The early estimates of the losses are at least ten times the ticket values."