Aer Lingus will face pilots’ strike this week

Pilots at Ireland’s Aer Lingus will stage a 48-hour walkout on Tuesday and Wednesday (August 21 and 22), and the airline is advising passengers of disruptions to its service this week. Aer Lingus said it will suspend all transatlantic service to and from Ireland on those two days. On Thursday (August 23), the airline will operate no flights from the U.S. to Ireland, but will offer “a limited schedule from Ireland to the U.S.” Aer Lingus said passengers booked to travel August 21-24 can change their flights to the following week for no penalty. Customers can change bookings on the Aer Lingus web site (www.aerlingus.com) or by calling 800-474-7424. The pilots are upset over a plan by Aer Lingus management to create a new base of operations at Belfast with a separate pilot group and lower wages.