Aer Lingus pilots have taken industrial action in an ongoing dispute with the airline over pay.
Members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) began indefinite work at midnight on Wednesday.
An eight-hour strike, from 05:00 to 13:00 BST, is planned for Saturday.
Hundreds of flights cancelled
The airline said it was disappointed that the employment tribunal had not intervened in the dispute, but would review the matter in July.
“Aer Lingus will continue to endeavor to minimize the disruption caused to its customers by IALPA’s industrial action,” it said in a statement.
The airline said it “has made clear that it remains available for discussions both directly and through State Industrial Relations.”
The total number of flights canceled as a result of the industrial action, Aer Lingus said, now stands at 270.
All Aer Lingus regional flights, operated by Emerald Airlines, and Aer Lingus UK transatlantic flights to and from Manchester will operate as planned.
He called on IALPA to “consider the damage its continued industrial action is inflicting on passengers, the airline and the Irish economy”.
A full list of canceled flights up to and including July 2 is available on the airline’s website.
It said: “The nature of this industrial action may result in further cancellations and delays and we will communicate directly with affected customers as soon as possible.”
What do passengers say?
Igiehon Elite Academy, a Wexford basketball team, is scheduled to travel to Newark, New Jersey, on Wednesday for a basketball tournament and training academy.
Team member Daniel Walsh said: “We had heard about the strikes so we arrived an hour early.
“There are around fifty of us leaving for an academy and we are all on the same flight.
“We checked with the airline, our coach contacted our flight agent and checked as well. Our flight wasn’t canceled, but we still had a United Airlines backup.”
The team also returns from New Jersey with Aer Lingus, but doesn’t know what will happen.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Daniel said.
Ronan Sheridan from Cavan left his sister at Dublin Airport after her flight was changed.
“My sister is going to New York and at the last minute we had to change the flight to American Airlines.
“She had been warned, so I think it was pretty well organized. She had to look for alternatives on her own, because she had to go today. Today was the day she was leaving. This could not be changed.
“Pretty lucky.” It worked, reasonably.
On scene: Aoife Moore, BBC News NI Dublin journalist
Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport was very busy this morning, which was not surprising at the end of June.
The Aer Lingus baggage drop-off facility was busy but moving quickly as many employees were on hand to help customers carrying large suitcases.
The zeal began at midnight, which heralds a total strike on Saturday.
The pay battle between pilots and the airline looks set to continue.
Aer Lingus is one of the major carriers flying passengers to the United States from Dublin, so many of those at the airport were heading on transatlantic routes.
Many have booked other days or airlines in order to arrive at their destination relatively on time.
Most of those interviewed by the BBC said that, despite some disruption, they had managed to find an alternative flight.
Speaking to BBC News NI on Tuesday, IALPA chairman Captain Mark Tighe said the work was now in place because Aer Lingus management “refused to see the reasonableness of our request to cumulative inflationary wage”.
IALPA is demanding a 24% salary increase.
Capt Tighe said an “acceptable offer” would end the strike.
He added: “The company has categorically refused to recognize its wisdom and sense of keeping its staff salaries in line with inflation.
“We are not looking to increase our salaries, we are looking to preserve our income,” he added.
“It is not unreasonable for staff to want their salaries protected.”
He said the work to be done includes “some additional industrial elements.”
“Basically pilots who have always shown great flexibility in making sure planes get home when delayed and arrive on days off – some pilots have done this, most don’t due to work-life balance – but with that taken away, the flexibility is gone. “.
Captain Tighe said people should be aware that only a small number of pilots give up their days off to work.
“The fact that the company says it is canceling up to 20% of its flights because of this means that it is so short of pilots that it has a problem it does not want to solve,” he said. he declares.
On Tuesday, senior politicians in the Republic of Ireland called for a solution to be found.
Taoiseach Simon Harris had called on Aer Lingus and IALPA to “engage intensively” with the employment tribunal to avoid “total chaos” for air passengers.
He urged both sides to “dig deep,” calling for “compromise, engagement and sitting down around the table.”
Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said there was “an urgent need” to find a solution.
The public, he added, is being ignored by both sides of the conflict.
“It is shocking that they are being ignored and deliberately, if you like, sidelined in this battle between Aer Lingus management and the unions,” Mr Martin said.
What should I do if my Aer Lingus flight is cancelled?
The airline said passengers booked for flights between June 26 and July 2 had a number of options.
Everyone must be contacted by email or SMS, or through their travel agent.
For customers who have booked directly with Aer Lingus, it is possible to change their flight online.
The company said it would waive the fare difference and possible change fees if rebooked at a later date.
There is also the possibility of requesting a full refund or a refund voucher, usable within five years.
Aer Lingus said passengers who booked through a travel agency or third party should contact those companies directly.
“Unfortunately, Aer Lingus is unable to provide direct assistance in these cases,” Aer Lingus points out on its website.