Taylor Swift fans scrambling as Aer Lingus pilot strike coincides with Dublin concert dates
Taylor Swift's concert dates in Dublin this weekend are coinciding with an Aer Lingus pilot strike that's resulted in more than 200 canceled flights, and Swift's traveling fans don't want to miss her like this.
The Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association is pushing for a 12.25 percent pay increase from the airline and workers are striking to pressure Aer Lingus. Pilots are refusing overtime work and have an 8-hour strike planned for Saturday, among other actions, according to The Irish Times.
Aer Lingus flights between Wednesday and July 2 are impacted, although the airline is working to reschedule flights and offering refunds to customers. There have been around 270 flight cancelations impacting more than 35,000 travelers, the Irish Times reported.
"Aer Lingus fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers given the uncertainty caused by IALPA’s industrial action and is giving customers as many options as possible, should they wish to change their plans," the company said in a statement.
Despite the options provided by Aer Lingus, some dedicated Swifties will now not be able to make it to the Ireland shows.
Margot, a France-based fan, resold her tickets via Ticketmaster after her Aer Lingus flight to Dublin was canceled. She also offered up her hotel accommodations on social media to anyone who might need to stay.
"Due to flights being cancelled (down bad; crying on the floor) I won’t be able to make it but I’m happy to transfer the room to anyone who would need it room booked from Saturday to Monday morning," she wrote in a post.
One fan, Chrissy, wrote on X that Aer Lingus moved their flight from Saturday to Friday, but "since we have to work on that day we won’t be able to make it to the Eras Tour."
James Oaks, whose X account says he’s based in Kansas City, Missouri, posted Monday that his flight to Dublin for the show was canceled. He didn’t immediately respond to a request to speak to NBC News.
“Shout out to @TicketmasterUK for refusing to allow us to resale our tickets to see @taylorswift13 in Dublin when our trip was cancelled due to an airline strike last minute,” Oaks wrote.
Another fan tagged Aer Lingus in a post that if their family were unable to make the show because of the labor action, the pilots would be "the least of your problems."
"You do not want a teenage girl as an enemy," the user wrote. "They are the scariest people on earth."
Meanwhile, some other fans are hoping to cash in on the unfortunate circumstances by asking to buy tickets from anyone unable to make the shows.
"yo if any americans can’t make it to the dublin eras tour because aer lingus screwed you over im here to take your ticket so it doesn’t go to waste," one X user wrote.
Representatives from both Aer Lingus and the IALPA had separate meetings with Ireland's Labour Court, but the airline said Tuesday that the court determined that "it is unable to assist in the dispute at this time."
The IALPA did not immediately return a request for comment from NBC News.
Doha Madani
Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.