They are demanding wage increases of over 20 percent after rejecting a 9 percent pay rise negotiated at the Labour Court.

The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) reported that 97.7 percent of the ballots returned supported industrial action, including the possibility of a strike.

Aer Lingus described a strike as unnecessary and regrettable, warning it would cause significant disruption for the airline’s customers and other employees.

The airline stated that discussions are ongoing and that it is willing to seek the support of the Workplace Relations Commission to find additional solutions.