Ryanair cancels hundreds of European flights due to pilots’ strike

The airline announced on Wednesday (August 8) it would cancel 250 flights to and from Germany due to the latest action.

It comes after Ryanair pilots in Belgium, Ireland and Sweden also voted for strike action.

Some 104 flights to or from Belgium, 22 to or from Sweden and 20 to or from Ireland will not operate.

All affected customers have been contacted, the airline has said, and offered a refund, free move or re-route.

Ryanair remains locked in dispute with the European VC pilots union over pay and conditions.

Kenny Jacobs, Ryanair chief marketing officer, branded the latest strike action in German “unnecessary”, stating Ryanair invited the union to meet on Tuesday (August 7).

“Our pilots in Germany enjoy excellent working conditions,” he said. “They are paid up to €190,000pa and, as well as additional benefits, they received a 20% pay increase at the start of this year.”

Jacobs said its pilots in Germany earned at least 30% more than Eurowings pilots and 20% more than Norwegian pilots.

“We asked VC to provide us with at least 7 days’ notice of any planned strike action so we could notify our customers of cancelled flights in advance and offer them alternative flights or refunds,” said Jacobs. “But they have refused to do this and instead call an unnecessary strike in Germany in just two days’ time.

"Ryanair is ready to continue negotiations. We again call on the VC to remove the threat of an unjustified and unnecessary strike, to commit to providing reasonable notice of strike action and accept our invitations to meet for meaningful negotiations.”