Strike action by Ryanair pilots has caused the airline to cancel up to 30 of 290 Irish flights on Thurs 12 July, only some IRE-UK flights affected. All Ireland to Europe flights will operate as normal as majority of Irish pilots will fly on Thurs since only 94 of the 350+ Irish pilots will strike.
Ryanair said that it had tried to avert this disruption, which it deems unnecessary since the airline sent written proposals to Ryanair pilots’ and their union FORSA on seniority, annual leave and base transfers, but the airline claims that FORSA has rejected 21 separate invitations to meet with them to negotiate these documents.
“Ryanair pilots have already secured a 20% pay increase, earn up to €200,000 p.a., work 5 days-on, followed by 4 days-off (a double bank holiday weekend at the end of every week), enjoy rapid promotions and unmatched job security. In a final effort to avert this strike, we have agreed to meet our pilots and FORSA at a neutral venue kindly provided by Dublin Airport, but we believe this small group of pilots and FORSA are determined to disrupt the travel of Irish customers on 12th July.”
The meeting will go ahead today even though strikes are still planned for Thursday. Ryanair says that it cannot rule out further disruptions in July and August, as pilots have noted in the past that they are “contemplating a series of 1 and 2 days strikes in July and August”.