Ryanair pilots to strike twice this summer sparking travel chaos for Brits

The pilots are planning two 48-hour walkouts in August and September.

Ryanair pilots are to stage a series of strikes this month in a row over pay.

British holidaymakers have been warned to prepare for more travel woe, with a 48-hour walkout beginning on August 22 – just before the bank holiday weekend – and another on September 2.

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) said Ryanair ‘doesn’t understand how to work with unions’ and does not have ‘standard agreements that any union would reasonably expect in any workplace’.

The union added: ‘That is why our claim includes many issues including pensions; loss of license insurance; maternity benefits; allowances; and a fair, transparent, and consistent pay structure.

‘We have made no progress with Ryanair management on any of those areas at all, seemingly because Ryanair management cannot understand how to go about working with us constructively, or how to negotiate. Ryanair has made no offer to Balpa in respect of its pilots.’

Balpa’s general secretary Brian Strutton said: ‘We have had no formal offer from Ryanair and it is imperative that we resolve this dispute urgently to avoid strike action.

‘No pilot wants to spoil the public’s travel plans but at the moment it seems we have no choice.’

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has warned of redundancies from next month because it has 500 more pilots and 400 more cabin crew than it needs.

A Ryanair spokesman said: ‘We are disappointed that Balpa is threatening to disrupt our customers’ travel plans during late August, early September, when it has the support of less than 30% of Ryanair’s UK pilots.

‘The independent result of Balpa’s ballot shows that less than 50% of Ryanair’s UK pilots are members of Balpa and of these, just 57% voted in favour of industrial action.

‘This is less than 30% of Ryanair’s UK pilots. It is notable that over 70% of Ryanair’s UK pilots are either not members of Balpa or did not vote in Balpa’s ballot, or voted against industrial action.

‘Balpa have no mandate to disrupt our customers’ holidays and flights, particularly at a time when UK pilots are facing job losses due to the Boeing MAX delivery delays, and the threat of a no-deal Brexit on 31 Oct.’