Ryanair passengers still left in the dark as pilot strike looms

RYANAIR passengers last night remained in the dark over their travel plans next Wednesday when Irish-based pilots plan to strike just days before Christmas.

The airline continued to say it will ‘deal with any disruptions’ – but would not outline how it plans so to do.

It comes despite mounting pressure on the firm from other international pilot unions, as reports last night said the Portuguese pilots also plan to take strike action next Wednesday.

The low-cost airline did not provide answers to questions yesterday from the Irish Daily Mail about what contingency plans would be put in place for December 20, when Irish-based-pilots plan to strike. The company instead reiterated its message that it ‘will deal with any disruptions (at Dublin on December 20) if and when they arise’.

Ryanair went on to say: ‘We apologise sincerely to customers for any worry this threatened action by less than 28% of our Dublin pilots may cause.’

Thousands of passengers have been left in limbo after the pilots, who are employed directly by the company and are members of the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association, voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action which will take the form of a 24-hour work stoppage.

However, the true effect of this work stoppage – over collective bargaining – remains to be seen as IALPA and affiliated union Impact represent approximately 28% of the 300 or so Ryanair pilots working in Irish bases.

While the company vowed to ‘face down’ strike action, it also warned that any pilots who take part in industrial action will lose pay benefits, promotion opportunities and their current ‘five on and four off’ roster arrangement.

The issue comes after the airline in autumn cancelled a tranche of flights affecting 700,000 passengers.

A source believes it may be early next week before a development happens in the latest impasse.

WITH many people due to fly to visit family abroad next week, the uncertainty over the proposed one-day strike by Ryanair pilots on Wednesday threatens to leave the Christmas plans of thousands in ruins. At this time of the year, it is not like they could easily be accommodated on flights later in the week, but calls to the airline’s helpline have proved frustratingly evasive.

Ryanair has had a bad year, but some public confidence was restored once the pilot rostering mess was sorted out. Let us hope it learned from that PR disaster, and moves swiftly to clarify the Plan B its passengers clearly need.