Ryanair recognises unions in bid to avert crippling strike

Ryanair has made a dramatic U-turn and agreed to recognise pilots’ unions for the first time in its history, after it was threatened with a potentially-crippling strike just days before Christmas.

The low-cost carrier sent the offer to representative bodies in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal – the only time Michael O’leary has sought such a deal in the 32 years of the airline.

One day of industrial action had been planned for Wednesday, December 20 and would have mostly involved captains.

Mr O’leary, pictured, said the pilots should call off the threat.

“Christmas flights are very important to our customers and we wish to remove any worry or concern that they may be disrupted by pilot industrial action next week,” he said.

“If the best way to achieve this is to talk to our pilots through a recognised union process, then we are prepared to do so, and we have written today to these unions inviting them to talks to recognise them and calling on them to cancel the threatened industrial action planned for Christmas week.”

Ryanair’s offer is conditional on unions in the six countries setting up special committees to deal with issues related to the airline.

It says it will not deal with pilots flying for other airlines.