Ryanair pilots’ strike sees 28,000 miss their flights

OVER 28,000 Ryanair passengers have had their flights cancelled today because of a strike by staff on the Continent. Some of the airline’s German pilots yesterday announced their decision to strike alongside cabin crew across Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal today.

Despite repeated questions, the airline refused to disclose how many flights in and out of Ireland would be cancelled or delayed as a result of the industrial action. According to the airline, 150 flights have been cancelled today as a result of what it termed ‘unnecessary strikes’.

Ryanair claimed that some of its German pilots are striking despite the airline agreeing to arbitration and inviting them for further talks.

Ryanair’s chief operations officer, Peter Bellew, said that the strike had been called ‘by the Lufthansa-controlled VC Union’ despite the airline agreeing to their demands.

‘Having spent over seven hours in direct negotiations with the VC… and provided them with written agreement to their demands within 24 hours, it is deeply regrettable the VC call another unnecessary strike.

In a statement, the airline said it sent emails and texts to affected customers on Tuesday advising them of their options. ‘The number of flights cancelled [today] has been reduced to 150 (from the expected 190) as the vast majority of our people will work as normal,’ the statement read.

A VC spokesman said the group ‘contradict the statement of the Ryanair management’ and reiterated their support for Ryanair pilots. ‘The desire for improvement comes from the employees of Ryanair. No one else tells them what to say or do.’