Aer Lingus has told the stock exchange the cost of hiring in planes and crews from other airlines during the dispute with its cabin crew is 'not material' at the moment.
But it added that a continuation of the dispute could hit passenger bookings which could, in turn, have 'a potentially significant impact' on the airline's financial performance.
The cabin crew union IMPACT has claimed the cost of hiring in planes and crews could top €400,000 a day - and could be even more if they were hired to operate transatlantic flights.
'The responsibility for any adverse financial impact of this disruption is attributable directly to those IMPACT cabin crew members who have decided not to operate their agreed rosters,' the Aer Lingus statement said.
Aer Lingus was forced to cancel 12 flights today as the dispute over cabin crew rostering arrangements continued.
The airline insisted that less than 10% of its schedule was affected - but warned that similar disruption is expected over the coming days. IMPACT said its members were available for work and management was entirely to blame for the cancellations.
