Aer Lingus employees backs scheme to plug pension hole

DUBLIN, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Aer Lingus (Other OTC: AELGF - news) trade union members approved proposals to address the airline's pension deficit on Wednesday, its main trade union said, clearing a major hurdle as the Irish airline's looks to plug a hole in the scheme.

Aer Lingus is seeking agreement to make a one-off 191 million euro ($238.35 million) payment in relation to the scheme, which employees at Aer Lingus share with other aviation industry workers, and which has a deficit of more than 700 million euros.

The airline, which reported a 19 percent rise in third-quarter operating profit earlier on Wednesday, will ask shareholders to back the agreement in December. It also needs approval from pension trustees and the country's pension authority. (1 US dollar = 0.8013 euro) (Reporting by Padraic Halpin, editing by Louise Heavens)