IALPA members at Emerald Airlines have voted overwhelmingly to back a new collective labour agreement (CLA), delivering significant improvements in pay, career progression and conditions of employment. 

The agreement, which covers pilots employed by Emerald Airlines, the operator of Aer Lingus Regional services, was endorsed by 92% of IALPA members in a ballot, comfortably exceeding the threshold required for ratification. A total of 97% of members participated in the ballot.  

The new deal provides for improved pay scales across the pilot group, including increases of up to 20% for captains and enhanced salary progression for first officers throughout the scale. Captain base salaries will rise by €5,000 from 1st August 2026, in addition to annual 3% increases in March 2027, March 2028 and March 2029. 

The agreement will run from 1st August 2026 until 28th February 2030, with discussions on a successor agreement due to begin no later than 1st September 2029. The new CLA also provides for further pay discussions during the lifetime of the agreement if the company reaches accumulated profitability, taking account of the company’s outlook and wider economic conditions. 

IALPA’s Emerald Airlines chair, Aidan Rothwell, described the agreement as significant and said it would deliver meaningful improvements for members.  

He said: “The scale of the ballot result demonstrates strong member support for the agreement and provides a solid foundation for continued engagement with the company over the lifetime of the deal.” 

Fórsa is also working with cabin crew members at Emerald Airlines. A recent organising drive has increased membership, boding well for the future. 

Assistant general secretary Nicola Coleman said: "The growth in membership shows that cabin crew also want a genuine voice at work, fair pay secured through collective bargaining, and union recognition." 

She continued: "At a smaller airline, every voice counts. We are on the way to securing a stronger voice at work, but we need to keep building momentum. If every Fórsa member at Emerald encourages just one colleague to join this week, we can take a significant step towards winning union recognition, collective bargaining, and greater fairness in the workplace."

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.