Airline handles air freight deliveries in Europe for companies including Amazon’s Prime Air
The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) said the pilots will strike from 5pm next Tuesday evening, December 16, until 8am on Wednesday.
Cargo freighters can be busiest at airports outside of peak times.
ASL Airlines employs about 300 pilots and the strike action will pose a headache for its delivery firm clients in the run up to Christmas.
It also comes as storm activity this week, which is likely to reoccur in the next number of days, could also hit Christmas logistics.
Ialpa said the strike notice was issued to ASL Airlines following what it said was the company’s refusal to progress long-awaited negotiations on recognition and a collective labour agreement covering pay and conditions.
The company declined to comment.
Pilots said they have been left with no option but to take industrial action after the company refused to meet with the union’s elected negotiating team.
“We were extremely disappointed that ASL management wrote to us late yesterday evening to cancel today’s planned meeting, which was due to conclude negotiations on a recognition agreement and begin talks on a Collective Labour Agreement,” said Ialpa vice-president, Captain Daniel Langan.
“Ialpa has negotiated in good faith for over a month and has given ASL every opportunity to do the right thing for their pilots,” he added. “Our members feel they have been left with no choice but to strike for the fair pay and conditions they deserve.”
He added that the union remains committed to resolving the dispute.
“Ialpa remains available to meet ASL at any time. We stand ready to negotiate pay, terms, and conditions on behalf of our members,” he said.
ASL, owned since 2019 by UK-based private equity group Star Capital, generated revenue of €1.45bn in 2023.
That was down 11pc on 2022. It posted a pre-tax loss of €24.3m in 2023, compared to a profit of €121m in 2022.
Chief executive Dave Andrew told the Irish Independent during the summer that the company made a profit in 2024.
Of its revenue in 2023, €559m was generated in Europe, €294m in Asia and €574m in Africa, where its South African-based low-cost unit FlySafair operates passenger services and accounts for about 60pc of domestic seat capacity in the country.
ASL handles air freight services for Amazon Prime Air in Europe, and also for the online retail giant in India via a joint venture, using Boeing 737-800 jets that have been converted from passenger use to freight.
Storm Bram hit Ireland and the UK on Tuesday, battering the region with strong winds.
Terminal 5 at Holyhead Port remained closed as of Tuesday evening as severe weather conditions continued to prevent a full assessment of the berth structure.
“The terminal will remain closed until inspections are complete and a detailed structural engineering report confirms it is safe to reopen the terminal,” according to Stena Ports. “We are currently working towards a timeframe of four–five days for the completion of this inspection, but every effort is being made to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”
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