The Aer Lingus Board issued a statement this evening, saying it notes the company is performing well and is on course to achieve its operating profit target of €95m for 2004.
The Board also said it approved a three-year business plan for the airline which details 'strategic, commercial and financial actions essential to ensure the continuing viability and growth of the business in the highly competitive, low-fares environment'.
Details of the business plan have not yet been made public but reports suggest management proposes cutting 1,300 jobs - that is 300 in cabin crew, 450 jobs from check-in and baggage handling, 60 from the cargo division and 280 from cleaning and catering.
Unions have said that they will oppose any compulsory redundancies.
Transport Minister Seamus Brennan said if there were to be job cuts in Aer Lingus, he did not see any reason why they should not be on a voluntary basis.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has called on Seamus Brennan to ask Aer Lingus Chief Executive Willie Walsh to stand aside, as his conflict of interest is even more obvious now, in light of his plans to axe 1,300 jobs.
Joe Costello said that Walsh cannot be allowed to continue wearing two hats while the issue is under consideration.
