German Ryanair pilots join Ireland, Belgium and Sweden in Friday strike
Ryanair's staffing problems continue to rumble on as pilots in Germany joined those of Ireland, Belgium and Sweden in calling a 24-hour strike on Friday, which could ground around 400 flights and affect thousands of passengers.
Ryanair Holdings
€15.20
18:30 22/01/21
The walkout is part of an ongoing dispute over working conditions that have already resulted in four separate one-day strikes from Irish pilots, with total strikes around Europe resulting in more than 2,500 flight cancellations for the budget carrier in the first quarter of the year.
With Germany added to Friday's strike, around 45,000 passengers will be given 48 hours’ notice or less that their flights have been cancelled.
The Dublin-headquartered airline recognised pilot unions last year but has failed to agree on collective labour deals with staff across Europe.
Ryanair has been forced to cancel 20 of its scheduled 300 Irish flights on Friday, affecting around 3,500 customers. In Germany, all 250 flights will be affected, accounting for around 10% of all European flights scheduled that day.
The walkout in Belgium will affect 104 flights, whereas in Sweden it will affect 22 services.
Stranded customers will be rescheduled on other flights or will be refunded. The airline said the strike constitutes as “extraordinary circumstances” beyond the control of the company and will not pay compensation to affected travellers.
However, Martin Locher, president of the German union, Vereinigung Cockpit, said: "Improvements are inconceivable without staff cost increases in the cockpit. Ryanair categorically ruled out any increase in staff costs in the negotiations.
"Ryanair alone is responsible for the escalation that has now occurred."
The airline is now battling Dutch pilots to prevent them going on strike during the summer. The Dutch Airline Pilots Association said it was outraged the pilot’s labour rights are not being respected.
Ryanair's chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, said the airline sent VC a new proposal on a collective labour agreement on 3 August "and stated our intention to work towards achieving a CLA together" and an invitation to meet the company had not been taken.
"Our pilots in Germany enjoy excellent working conditions," Jacobs said, arguing that Ryanair pilots earn more than Eurowings and Norwegian Air pilots.
“Ryanair is now forced to cancel 250 flights of over 2,400 flights scheduled to operate on Friday 10 August. We apologise to our customers for this unnecessary strike and regrettable disruption.”
Under rules for European air passengers’ rights, if Ryanair is unable to fly customers to where they need to be on the day of their original flight or the following day, customers can demand to be booked on a rival airline, if seats are available.
However, under these rules, industrial action is usually classed as “extraordinary circumstances” and so no compensation is paid.