Ryanair cancels 30 flights tomorrow as pilots strike

Ryanair passengers are facing disruption tomorrow as a result of a 24-hour pilot strike.

In a statement yesterday afternoon the airline said 30 of 290 UK flights will be affected by the stoppage.

It added that it is cancelling some flights on high frequency routes from Ireland to London and other destinations in the UK.

The company said these were routes on which customers could transfer “readily” to other flights on the day. They could otherwise switch to earlier flights or later on Friday, Saturday or beyond.

The airline, headed by Michael O’Leary, added that customer service teams were helping with refunds and transfers to alternative flights.

All Ireland to Europe flights will run as normal but the airline said it could not rule out further disruption.

It said: “Customers who are travelling on a Ryanair flight to/ from Ireland on Thursday 12 July and who have not already received an email or text notification, then we expect their flight to operate and they should check in as normal at their departure airport on Thursday.

“We apologise to our Irish customers for these regrettable disruptions which we have done our utmost to avoid.”

In its statement, the company said it could not rule out further disruption throughout the summer.

It said: “We have tried to avert this disruption, which is unnecessary given Ryanair piSOME

Chief: Michael O’Leary lots and their union FORSA has received written proposals on seniority, annual leave and base transfers, which are what FORSA claims are the reasons for this strike, yet FORSA has rejected 21 separate invitations to meet Ryanair to negotiate these documents.”

“Ryanair pilots have already secured a 20% pay increase, earn up to €200,000 pa, work 5 dayson followed by 4 days-off (a double bank holiday weekend at the end of every week), enjoy rapid promotions and unmatched job security,” the airline’s statement continued.

Ryanair said it had agreed to meet the pilots and FORSA, but that “a small group of pilots and FORSA are determined to disrupt the travel of Irish customers on 12th July”.