Aer Lingus has refused an invitation to the Oireachtas Transport Committee to discuss the ongoing issues over cancelled flights.

In a damning letter read out to the committee yesterday, one irate passenger vowed "never to fly Aer Lingus again" following the cancellation of their flight from Dublin to JFK in New York, after they had spent three hours sitting on a runway.

Last week, 100 flights were cancelled by Aer Lingus, the committee heard. Cancellations by the airline also account for 70% of all cancellations from Dublin Airport.

Transport Committee chairman Kieran O'Donnell told members that an invitation had been issued to Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton to appear in front of TDs and senators next week.

"Despite repeated requests, they have refused to appear," the Fine Gael TD said. "We find that unacceptable. We will be reissuing the invite to Aer Lingus.

In Association with

"We will expect Aer Lingus to come in before us next Wednesday. It is the least they can do in terms of their customers, in terms of explaining to the public what the current situation is."

The airline was sharply criticised by committee members, who demanded that Aer Lingus make time to meet with them.

Fine Gael senator Jerry Buttimer read out a letter he had received from a passenger.

"[On Tuesday] July 12, flight EI107 from Dublin to JFK New York was cancelled," it read. "We sat on the runway for nearly three hours. Then we were summarily told to get off, find our own accommodation and wait for an email from Aer Lingus for further information. Getting off the plane, we were met with a skeleton crew who had no concrete or usable information."

The passenger added that "incompetence, arrogance and a lack of concern for their passengers have been one reason I will never fly Aer Lingus again".

Mr Buttimer accused the airline of holding the committee in contempt. He argued that Aer Lingus's attitude and behaviour were "unacceptable".

A spokesperson for Aer Lingus said the airline will attend the committee "at a later date".

They said: "Aer Lingus advised the Transport and Communications Committee chairman that representatives were unable to attend a committee meeting next week due to unavoidable existing commitments. Aer Lingus offered to attend a committee meeting at a later date and to answer in writing any specific questions that the committee had in advance of that meeting."