Worker dispute cancels Aer Lingus Boston flight

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish airline Aer Lingus cancelled a return flight to Boston on Monday due to a long-running dispute with staff over a new roster system that will mean increased working hours.

The former state carrier said cabin crew on the flight had refused to work under the new system and blamed their trade union, Impact, for the cancellation.

"Disruption to flights has been avoided until now only through the hard work and flexibility of many staff who have refused to participate in the disruptive industrial action," Aer Lingus said.

Customers are being re-booked on flights to New York later on Monday or on a flight to Boston on Tuesday.

Impact said the flight could have gone ahead had Aer Lingus rostered a cabin manager from another flight to work on the Boston route rather than asking one of the cabin crew to take over the position. Such "acting up" arrangements are not allowed under the union's industrial action.

The airline has cut unprofitable U.S. routes, reduced staff and fuel costs to reverse losses that threatened its survival. It returned to profit last year.

Aer Lingus shares were flat at 1.085 euros, with the main index 0.1 percent lower.

(Reporting by Carmel Crimmins. Editing by Jane Merriman)