Continuing with the IALPA/Aer Lingus dispute, the Irish Times also reports that pilot absences due to an increase in illness or other reasons forced Aer Lingus to cancel 56 flights over the past six months, the company confirmed on Wednesday.

The paper reports that Aer Lingus has raised the pilots’ unavailability with Fórsa, querying whether it was unofficial action, which the union has refuted. Elsewhere, speculation continues as to what may or may not happen when the industrial action starts, while the Irish Independent's editorial says there are "ample industrial mechanisms and arbitrators capable of managing such negotiations to avoid a showdown in which people are held to ransom until one side blinks."

Meanwhile the Examiner reports that bookings with the airline are down, and takes a very different editorial line to the Indo: "The pilots are perfectly entitled to take industrial action and seek better terms and conditions, and it makes sense that they would do so at a time when it is most likely to help their cause. Employees hold power, and should always do so," while the Irish Times editorial takes a more conciliatory stance: "Sometimes industrial disputes are only settled after an initial industrial action brings everyone to the table."

Zen

Your Zen moment this morning is a clip from Cork stand up Chris Kent, whose videos keep popping up in my digital world, but it's no burden, he's very funny.

Have a great day.

Niall