Fórsa has described last week’s announcement, that Aer Lingus was laying-off all cabin crew at Shannon Airport, as devastating for the staff and for the Mid-West region.

The head of Fórsa’s Services and Enterprises Division Ashley Connolly said the union has sought to maintain the links between staff and employer throughout the Covid crisis, in order that the airline and its crews were ready to resume services as and when it was safe to do so: “The Covid crisis has lasted far longer than anyone had envisaged, and this creates additional challenges to maintain the solutions we had previously put in place with the employer.

“Fórsa has previously warned that thousands of jobs dependent on aviation could be lost permanently unless the Government acts to support the sector though a second summer of inactivity caused by Covid-related travel restrictions,” she said.

The union communicated the warning directly to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications Networks in February.

Fórsa called for enhanced industry-specific wage supports, easier access to mortgage payment breaks, and enhanced Government supports to the industry including a State-led stakeholder engagement to develop a survival plan for the sector.

Ashley added: “Last week’s developments at Shannon illustrate that Fórsa’s warnings on the future of aviation need to be taken seriously and acted upon with urgency. The sector plays a crucial role in both our national and regional economies,” she said.

Fórsa represents over 80,000 members, including around 5,000 workers in airlines, airports, air navigation bases, aviation regulatory bodies, and air traffic control.

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