Fresh pay negotiations between Aer Lingus management and staff are expected to concentrate on the issue of getting cabin crew to sell food and drinks for commission in a similar way to Ryanair.

The Labour Court has ordered management and staff to resume negotiations on the issue of a 4 per cent payment under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF).

Management is prepared to make the payment but only in return for certain changes: selling food and drinks on board; quicker aircraft "turnarounds" and earlier starting times for staff.

The Labour Court in a determination issued yesterday said it was satisfied the unions should agree to the changes, but not to the "extent and range" proposed by the company. Both sides will next week have to find a way to compromise on the three issues.

Aer Lingus is anxious to maximise revenue for services provided on board and is prepared to offer a 10 per cent commission.

Cabin crew already sell food and drinks on charter flights and receive a commission for selling duty-free goods. Ryanair staff receive a substantial element of their income via on-board sales, but up to now Aer Lingus has eschewed this approach.

The Labour Court determination also recommends that Aer Lingus pay staff double time for overtime. Under the survival plan "time and three quarters" payments were introduced, but the court said the financial situation which prompted this change was no longer in place.

Meanwhile, the airline has announced details of its biggest seat sale to date. The airline is offering one million seats at low prices across all its routes. Each way fares including taxes and charges will start from as low as €19.99 to Britain, €39.99 to Europe and €149.99 to the US.

The latest Aer Lingus traffic figures are up with passenger numbers rising by 18 per cent on transatlantic routes and 34 per cent in Europe for the first three months of 2003. This takes into account the early weeks of the war in Iraq.

Aer Lingus chief operations officer, Mr Seamus Kearney said the airline's widespread availability of low fares was generating significant growth in passenger numbers in the early months of the year.

"In the current difficult environment of the war in Iraq we are committed to continuing this policy and driving the cost of travel still lower for our customers," he said. "One million seats starting from €19.99 is great news for Aer Lingus customers."