American Airlines passengers face Christmas disruption

Passengers on American Airlines flights from Dublin to the US face possible disruption over Christmas following a mix up over pilots' holiday rosters.

American said on Thursday that it is working to avoid a crisis that could result in it cancelling thousands of flights over the busy Christmas period.

The airline, which flies year-round from Dublin to Philadelphia in the US, faces difficulties with up to 15,000 flights between December 17th and 31st because of a problem with pilots' holiday rosters.

In a statement, American said that it was “working diligently” to avoid cancellations.

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“We have reserve pilots to help cover flying in December, and we are paying pilots who pick up certain open trips 150 per cent of their hourly rate, as much as we are allowed to pay them per the contract,” the US carrier said.

According to earlier reports, the airline said that there had been a “glitch” in the system that allows pilots to bid for holidays based on seniority.

The Allied Pilots’ Association, the trade union representing American’s pilots, has reportedly filed a grievance saying that some restrictions on overtime pay violated the group’s contract.