Ryanair flight strikes will take place on a further seven days in September, it has been announced. Ryanair pilots in the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) revealed more dates today. They are demanding better pay and working condition, claiming their demands are “not unreasonable.” So will your flights be affected during the days of industrial action?
The strikes will take place on the following days:
18-19 September for 48 hours
21 September for 24 hours
23 September for 24 hours
25 September for 24 hours
27 September for 24 hours
29 September for 24 hours
Ryanair pilots also went on strike Monday to Wednesday this week – but no flights were cancelled as a result.
BALPA said in a statement that the union “feels it has been left with no choice but to add more dates given Ryanair’s intransigence.”
BALPA General Secretary, Brian Strutton, said: “We are clear that we want to settle the dispute and bring about a change in Ryanair for the better.
“Pilots in Ryanair are seeking the same kind of policies and agreements that exist in other airlines – our demands are not unreasonable.
“We want to address issues like pensions; loss of licence insurance; maternity benefits; allowances; and harmonise pay across the UK in a fair, transparent, and consistent structure.
“While this action has considerably disrupted Ryanair, forcing them to engage contractors and bring in foreign crews to run its operation, it has had limited impact on the public’s travel plans.
“Ryanair should stop dragging its feet and get back to the negotiating table.”
Ryanair remains confident that the “pointless” strikes will not affect customers’ flights.
The airline pointed out most of its pilots had flown during the strike action in August and early September.
Ryanair told the BBC: “These latest Balpa strikes are pointless given that during five days of Balpa strikes [on] 22,23 August and 2,3,4 September all Ryanair flights to and from UK airports operated as scheduled – with zero cancellations – thanks to the efforts of over 95 per cent of our UK pilots who flew as rostered and did not support these failed Balpa strikes.
“We again call on Balpa to return to talks as these failed strikes have not achieved anything.”
Ryanair customers due to fly on the affected days should wait until nearer the time to see if their flight will be delayed or cancelled.
The airline will be responsible for finding alternative arrangements for passengers or issuing them a refund.
However, passengers will not be able to claim compensation. This is because strike action is considered beyond the control of airlines so passengers are not automatically entitled to compensation.
In further Ryanair news, passengers travelling from Edinburgh Airport to Krakow, Poland, have claimed they were “literally held prisoners” in a stairwell as the Ryanair flight took off without them with all their bags on board.
