Pilots at Emerald Airlines, the carrier which holds the regional service franchise for Aer Lingus, have backed a new industrial relations agreement between the airline and Fórsa trade union.

The pilots are members of IALPA, the professional association which represents pilots within Ireland, and a branch of Fórsa. A ballot of pilots on the new agreement concluded on 8th September last.

Emerald Airlines operates regional flights, including the Dublin to Donegal service on behalf of Aer Lingus and UK regional routes trading as Aer Lingus Regional.

The agreement follows a series of negotiations between the union and Emerald, following the suspension of a work-to-rule during the summer months, and of a planned one-day stoppage at the August bank holiday weekend.

The industrial action had been organised in response to the airline’s prior refusal to engage with the union to form a collective labour agreement for pilots employed at the carrier.

IALPA principal officer Daniel Langan said: “The agreement achieves union recognition and a commitment to negotiating a Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) covering pilot pay, terms and conditions of employment.”

Fórsa national secretary Katie Morgan said the new agreement marked a fresh and positive step toward better industrial relations at the airline: "We will build on this success by negotiating a collective agreement covering pilot pay and employment terms.”

“The new industrial relations agreement commits the parties to that negotiation, and we look forward to commencing talks as soon as possible,” she said.

The ballot was backed by 100% vote in favour on a 93% turnout.