Aer Lingus announced that thier Shannon cabin crew base will be shut down permanently and lay off Cork crew for three months. The 81 cabin crew members will have the options of enhanced severance terms or base transfer to Dublin. Between 12 September and 22 November, 198 Cork based staff, 60 ground staff and 138 cabin crew, are to be laid off temporarily without payment. Cork Airport will be closed between these dates to enhance a complete upgradation of its main runway.
Irish Travel Agents Association has expressed their disappointment at the announcement by Aer Lingus today that they plan the permanent closure of their cabin crew base in Shannon. The loss of jobs and it’s impact will be very high for the people who already had a difficult time as the travel sector was affected very badly by the Covid 19 pandemic.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister of State Hildegard Naughton said they remain acutely aware of the devastating impact that Covid 19 restrictions have on the aviation sector nationally and internationally. Recommendations to redress the impact caused have been presented to the government by aviation and tourism task forces by the National Civil Aviation Development Forum.