Breakthrough in Ryanair dispute a timely Christmas present for families

THOUSANDS of air passengers due home for the Christmas holidays breathed a collective sigh of relief following Michael O’Leary’s last minute decision to recognise the pilots’ trade union IMPACT. A one-day strike planned on Wednesday would have affected Ryanair passengers in Dublin, Cork and Shannon, with planned stoppages also in Spain, Portugal Germany, Sweden and Italy over the Christmas period.

While there remains the possibility of future strike action if sufficient progress isn’t made when meetings between Ryanair and IMPACT begin on Tuesday, travellers are in a much more secure place than they were this time last week.

Mindful of the fiasco with pilots’ rosters back in October which saw the cancellation of hundreds of flights, senior management at Ryanair couldn’t afford the risk of another PR disaster with angry customers stranded at airports unable to be with family at Christmas.

The outcome represents a dramatic climb-down for Ryanair, a company that previously beat its chest over its decision not to recognise trade unions. A representative for the pilots’ union said on Sunday evening that they are now looking forward to a positive relationship with management and that’s music to the ears of air travellers.

The uncertainty has seen a significant cut in Ryanair’s share price target. But while many may gloat and revel in O’Leary’s reversal, there is no hiding from the fact that Ryanair has been one of Ireland’s most successful business creations.

The airline broke the stranglehold of extortionate air fares, opening the airways to budget travel. Therefore, those partaking in ‘Ryanair bashing’ on the back of this outcome must be mindful of the fact that European city breaks and cheaper travel between Ireland and the UK became a reality for thousands of ordinary people on the back of O’Leary’s business acumen.

The outcome is being hailed in some quarters as a ‘Christmas miracle’ but it would be totally wrong to dwell on who’s wrong and who’s right as thousands of people will now be making their way home from the four corners of the globe over the next few days.

It’s also a time of year when we should remind ourselves that Ireland is a nation defined by emigration.

The recent protest by up to 20 people in Killarney against the inclusion of 55 refugees in the town is food for thought on Ireland’s sometimes inverted outlook on immigration.

The protesters waved placards saying ‘our own first’, a loaded statement given that all our ancestors at some point arrived for the ‘first’ time in their chosen destination – be that the shores of America or a quiet country town in Ireland. People have always been on the move fleeing oppression and poverty and Irish people are no different in this respect.

Christmas is a time to pause and reflect on how we all arrived at our chosen destinations – be that by boat, car, train or even Ryanair.