Scottish customers look set to be hit by Ryanair’s flights axe

Routes to both Edinburgh and Glasgow affected

Five Scottish routes are among those to be hit by Ryanair’s latest decision to axe an extra 18,000 flights in a move that will hit 400,000 customers.

The Irish carrier said it will fly 25 fewer aircraft between November and March as part of efforts to end a wave of cancellations that has already seen 2,000 flights grounded, after the firm miscalculated pilot leave.

Taking more flights out of service means Ryanair will be able to “roster all of the extra pilot leave necessary” in October, November and December, the budget airline said.

As a result, 34 routes are suspended for the winter season from November to March 2018.

Among them are several popular routes used by travellers from Scotland, including London Stansted to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Edinburgh to Szczecin, Glasgow to Las Palmas as well as Hamburg to Edinburgh.

Boss Michael O’Leary has blamed the move on mismanagement of pilots’ annual leave, leading to the overallocation of blocks of holidays.

The flight cancellations have so far cost the airline around 25 million euro.

Ryanair said the latest step will “eliminate all risk of further flight cancellations” and remove the risk of similar problems recurring next year.

The firm also plans to roll out a series of low fare seat sales for winter 2017 as it is “confident that there will be no further roster-related cancellations”.

It argued less than 1% of the 50 million customers Ryanair will carry this winter are impacted and all affected passengers have received an email alerting them and offering alternative flights or full refunds.

They have also received a 40 euro travel voucher.

Mr O’Leary said in a statement: “We sincerely apologise to those customers who have been affected by last week’s flight cancellations, or these sensible schedule changes announced today.

“From today, there will be no more rostering-related flight cancellations this winter or in summer 2018.

“Slower growth this winter will create lots of spare aircraft and crews which will allow us to manage the exceptional volumes of annual leave we committed to delivering in the nine months to December 2017.

“We will start a new 12-month leave period on January 1 2018 in full compliance with EU regulations and the IAA’s requirements.”