Despite strikes by pilots Ryanair flights took off

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Although thousands of Ryanair passengers were braced for disruption the airline took off in and out of the UK airports in the morning. A 48-hour walkout over pay and conditions  was to take place but Ryanair  lost a last-ditch challenge to stop the strikes on Wednesday.

However, it minisied the disruption for passengers and will be able to run its “full schedule of flights but it also alarming the passengers of not being able to rule out some delays.

Through email and text message Ryanair would be informing passengers of any changes to their flight and in case they did not get any notification it means that flight is scheduled to operate.

During the strike action the airline  had drafted in pilots from elsewhere in Europe to fill in.

In early September another 48- hour  walkout is planned by the union that will coincide with the summer holidays.

The pilots have asked the airline to change policies on issues like pensions, maternity benefits and insurance for pilots who lose their licence.

They also asked the airline to harmonise pay across the UK in a fair, transparent, and consistent structure.

Brian Strutton, the general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), said the union, which was only recognised by Ryanair 18 months ago, had tried to negotiate a comprehensive package  with the airline.

But Ryanair did not engage with that and did not made them any offer at all.

On being asked about the demands made by the captains to double the salary, Struton siad that it’s drivel and did not advised anyone tom pay too much attention to Ryanair’s exaggerations as the union had not asked for any specific percentage increases to pay.

Ryanair won a legal challenge to stop its Ireland-based pilots from striking on Wednesday but more of its pilots fly from the UK and the court cleared pilots to stage Thursday’s strike.

Balpa announced two 48-hour walkouts, one from 22-23 August and another from 2-4 September during early August.

Ryanair blocked the industrial action by turning to the courts in London and Dublin and Strutton said that the point was to actually disrupt Ryanair rather than disrupting the passengers.

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