AER LINGUS is set to cancel 20 flights today as a result of the continuing dispute over cabin crew rosters.
The airline said last night that the bulk of services affected would be flights from Dublin to destinations in the UK and Europe.
However, Aer Lingus said last night that one US service would also be affected by the current disruption.
Speaking at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s agm last night, Aer Lingus chief executive Christoph Mueller warned that he would not allow one group of staff to endanger the future of the airline.
Without naming cabin crew, Mr Mueller said: “There are some employees who simply cannot agree to the new conditions we have offered.
“If a company cannot find a general solution to a problem that presents itself then we have to find a solution on an individual basis . . . without hard feelings.
“We cannot endanger the whole species in holding up. We have to move forward.
“On that note I’m very confident that we will also resolve this problem,” he said.
Mr Mueller also apologised for the disruptions to its services caused by the dispute with cabin crew.
“You have been exposed to an IR [industrial relations] action of the last two weeks.
“Please accept my apologies tonight for the inconvenience that might have caused to you as a passenger.”
Aer Lingus yesterday cancelled 24 flights as a result of the dispute with cabin crew.
The airline has said passengers are being notified of flight cancellations and accommodated on other services. It has also advised passengers to check its website for information.
Meanwhile, talks between management and the Impact trade union, which represents cabin crew, continued last night at the Labour Relations Commission.
The dispute between management and cabin crew at the airline over rosters is now in its third week.
Highly placed sources said the talks at the commission almost broke down on two occasions on Wednesday but continued later.
The company presented what was described as a final position paper yesterday which was being considered by the union last night.
More than 300 members of cabin crew have been removed from the payroll by Aer Lingus management for refusing to operate new rosters.
The airline has also held disciplinary meetings with a number of cabin crew members previously taken off the payroll for refusing to operate controversial new rosters introduced unilaterally by the airline a fortnight ago.
The disciplinary meetings represent a further stage in a process which could see cabin crew sacked for refusing to operate the rosters.
Union sources said yesterday that there had been no follow-up by management to the disciplinary meetings.
Some sources close to the company had suggested previously that if the dispute was not resolved, some staff could face dismissal by the weekend.
However, union sources have argued that existing procedures in the airline allow for an appeal process before dismissals could take place.
Aer Lingus has said the controversial new rosters are essential to secure increases in flying hours for cabin crew which had been agreed under an overall cost-saving plan at the airline known as the Greenfield plan.
Under the plan, flying hours for cabin crew are to be increased to 850 annually.
However, Impact has argued the rosters are overly onerous and not family friendly.