30 FLIGHTS AXED AS PILOT STRIKE LOOMS

Ryanair blames union for decision

THIRTY flights due to take off from Ireland to the UK tomorrow were axed by Ryanair yesterday – ahead of crunch talks.

The budget carrier claimed despite agreeing to meet at a neutral venue today to avoid Thursday’s one-day stoppage, “a small group of pilots and [trade union] Forsa are determined to disrupt the travel of Irish customers”.

The airline insists that despite offering Forsa 21 separate invitations to meet, all were rejected.

As a result, it axed 30 of 290 Irish flights tomorrow on the Ireland-uk route. A Ryanair statement said: “We regret to advise some customers of a strike by just 94 [27%] of our 350-plus Irish pilots on Thursday.

“We tried to avert this disruption, which is unnecessary given Ryanair pilots and their union received written proposals on seniority, annual leave and base transfers, which are what FORSA claims are the reasons for this strike.

“Ryanair pilots have already secured a 20% pay increase, earn up to €200,000 p.a., work five days on, followed by four 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 July 12.” And the airline warned there may be more travel chaos in coming weeks.

The statement added: “We cannot rule out further disruptions in July and August, especially when some Aer Lingus pilots wrote officially to the DAA on June 25 – some 10 days before the results of the Ryanair pilot ballot were known – to advise they were “contemplating a series of one and two-day strikes.” Those affected by cancellations can get refunds or transfer to other flights on Thursday, switch to earlier flights today or later on Friday, Saturday or subsequent days.