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29th Jun 2022

12 Aer Lingus flights cancelled due to spike in Covid cases among staff

Dave Hanratty

Aer Lingus cancellations

It follows the cancellation of 13 flights by the airline last weekend.

Aer Lingus cancelled 12 flights on Wednesday (29 June) following an outbreak of Covid-19 cases among its staff.

The airline had previously cancelled 13 flights to and from Dublin Airport on Sunday, citing “system pressures” caused by air traffic controller strike action and a spike in Covid cases among personnel.

Aer Lingus ultimately issued an apology to those affected by the cancellations, stating that alternative arrangements were made where possible.

Some customers had taken to Twitter to note that adequate notice had failed to be provided to them, nor was an adequate explanation for the cancellations outlined.

According to RTÉ News, Wednesday’s cancellations included flights from Dublin to Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Lyon, Geneva, Munich and Amsterdam, in addition to corresponding return journeys.

JOE has contacted Aer Lingus for comment.

The cancellations occurred just one day after it emerged that that the Defence Forces are seemingly on standby for deployment at Dublin Airport to assist with ongoing management issues.

The Dublin Airport Authority (daa) has noted that the Defence Forces will only be required in the event of a Covid-fuelled emergency situation.

Daa has outlined to Government that a “prudent contingency” in the form of preparing initial steps to facilitate the training of Defence Forces personnel should be put in place.

Daa spokesperson Graeme McQueen notes that such a deployment should only occur “in the event that significant Covid-19 related absences due to illness and infection affected daa’s own security team”.

“Any deployment of Defence Forces personnel would only be triggered as a second phase, and only if ultimately required due to a Covid-19 outbreak,” McQueen added.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan had previously said that the army could be called in to combat delays at the airport should measures already in place to deal with issues regarding queuing and overcrowding no longer prove adequate.

In a statement on Tuesday, Defence Minister Simon Coveney said that Ryan had submitted the request, which would see Defence Forces members prepare to assist the daa with the provision of aviation security duties.

Minister Coveney referred to any potential Defence Forces involvement as a “distinct piece of work” that, if called upon, will represent a temporary measure.

“While I recognise that the role of the Defence Forces is not normally to assist in the provision of services for a commercial airport, I have agreed to this request on a clear assurance that this is a distinct piece of work, provided in extreme circumstances, as a short-term emergency related contingency action and is in direct response to a letter from daa management to the Minister for Transport,” he said.

“The request is clearly defined in terms of the role and timeline, lasting no more than six weeks, in non-public facing duties. Members of our Defence Forces will undergo an immediate period of training and stand ready to assist if the need arises.

“However, this support will be stood down in August when the busy holiday period has passed.”

Featured Image via Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

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