Go Vegan World Calls on Aer Lingus to Cater for Vegans

Summary

It was brought to our attention that it is difficult to obtain vegan options on Aer Lingus flights. This places vegans at a disadvantage in comparison to non-vegan customers, and is therefore an instance of indirect discrimination, which is prohibited under European Equality law for employees and under UK law for service users. It may also amount to a breach of our human right to live according to our fundamental convictions. For more detail on our rights as vegans see: https://goveganworld.com/vegan-rights/

We can use our human rights and equality rights as vegans to push for better provision, to enable vegans to live in a way that avoids animal exploitation. Go Vegan World wrote to Aer Lingus to call on them to cater for vegans on all flights and to ensure that it is straightforward to obtain a vegan option. Aer Lingus replied confirming that they have raised this with their in-flight catering manager for an internal review with a view to improving their services. However, they have not undertaken to report back to us on any changes they make.

If you fly with Aer Lingus please let us know about your experience: what, if any, vegan options they have available both for advance booking and in terms of snacks and drinks on board, and how easy it is for you to obtain vegan options. This is so that we can follow up with Aer Lingus if they do not improve things. You can contact us on Barbara.bolton@goveganworld.com

Vegan Rights

Vegans have human rights protections under European and international law. The vegan fundamental conviction that it is wrong to use and kill non-human animals is protected in the same way that religious beliefs are protected. Vegans have the right to live their lives according to their moral conviction, avoiding participation in animal exploitation and killing. Countries that have signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights – which includes all of the European countries Aer Lingus flies to including Ireland and the UK – must take such steps as are necessary to ensure vegans can live according to their conviction.

Under European equality law it is unlawful to discriminate against vegans, directly or indirectly, in employment. As Aer Lingus operates in the UK, it is also subject to the UK Equality Act, in terms of which all service providers have a duty not to discriminate against vegan service users, either directly or indirectly. By failing to provide for vegans and by making it so difficult for them to obtain vegan options, they are indirectly discriminating against vegans.  Vegans ought to be provided with meal options that are equivalent to those provided to non-vegans. After all, we are paying the same price for our seat on the flight. It should also be as easy for vegans to order a meal as it is for non-vegans.

Go Vegan World Challenges Aer Lingus

We wrote to Aer Lingus to bring to their attention their failure to cater for vegans, which indirectly discriminates against them, and to call on them to improve provision to comply with their legal obligations. We also pointed out the rapid increase in people who are avoiding consumption of animal products and therefore the business sense in ensuring they are catered for well, as well as offering to assist them to improve their offering.

Response from Aer Lingus

In response, Aer Lingus advised that they had passed our concerns to their in-flight manager for an internal review with a view to improving their provision:

However, they refused to come back to us to confirm what, if any changes they intend to make.

What can you do?

In order that we can follow up with them if things do not improve, please let us know about your experience with if you fly with Aer Lingus: what, if any, vegan options they have available both for advance booking and in terms of snacks and drinks on board, and how easy it is for you to obtain vegan options. This is so that we can follow up with Aer Lingus if they do not improve things. You can contact us on: Barbara.bolton@goveganworld.com

You can find out more about the rights of vegans at: https://goveganworld.com/vegan-rights/