DUBLIN -(Dow Jones)- Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus Group PLC (EIL1.DB) expects to suspend more cabin crew staff in a dispute over rosters, which has already led the airline to cancel 34 European flights Thursday. The airline suspended 82 staff without pay Wednesday for refusing to cooperate with new work practices and expects that the number will likely rise to 120 suspensions, a spokeswoman for the airline said Thursday. Cabin crew are now required to work 850 hours per annum, up from an average of 830 hours, a decision accepted by 93% of cabin crew in March 2010, and included in the subsequent binding arbitration concluded five months ago, Aer Lingus said. Eamonn Hughes, analyst at Goodbody Stockbrokers, which has a buy on Aer Lingus shares, said: "It's important that progress on the cost program continues even if it does cause some industrial relations issues in the short-term." -By Quentin Fottrell, Dow Jones Newswires; +353-1-676-2189; quentin.fottrell@dowjones.com
