Aer Lingus, pilots meet to end dispute

DUBLIN, Ireland, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Aer Lingus and its pilots' union resumed talks Tuesday to resolve a pay and working-conditions dispute at the airline’s Belfast, Northern Ireland, hub.

The talks began Monday night after the Irish Airline Pilots' Association suspended a 48-hour pilot strike set for Tuesday and Wednesday.

All Aer Lingus short-haul flights were scheduled to operate Tuesday but Tuesday and Wednesday long-haul flights between Dublin, Ireland, and New York and Chicago were canceled.

Separately, Dublin’s Ryanair, Europe’s largest discount carrier, increased its stake in Aer Lingus to more than 29.4 percent Monday and is now its largest shareholder, with the Irish government holding 25.4 percent, The Irish Times reported.

Ryanair said the move made it easier for other large shareholders to oppose Aer Lingus's route-change plans.