On Tuesday 10 July 2018, the Ryanair Transnational Pilot Group (RTPG) met for the 3rd time since its establishment in March. The meeting took place in Dublin, hometown to Ryanair. Pilots demonstrated a strong will and unity across the entire network. While a ‘Master Seniority Agreement’ tops off the list of key demands, pilots are determined to push for broader positive change and a genuine social dialogue with the airline.
On the eve of an industrial action in Ireland, however, it is clear that pilots’ ambition does not seem to be matched by the airline’s management. Slow to no progress in negotiations in many of the key countries risk making pilots question Ryanair’s commitment to engage in real social dialogue.
Union recognition does not mean anything if it is not followed by concrete agreements between pilots and management, reminds the RTPG. We can’t expect pilots to stand by and keep watching their reasonable demands just being swept under the carpet by the carrier.
Thursday would be a wake-up call coming from Ryanair’s own home-market to its management. If no significant progress is made soon, there will be more and more frustration among pilots.
The RTPG and national pilot unions it represents therefore call on the airline’s management to positively respond to its pilots’ demands on the key issues identified by those who contribute to the airline’s success daily.
Ryanair DAC is an Irish low-cost airline founded in 1984, headquartered in Swords, Dublin, Ireland, with its primary operational bases at Dublin and London Stansted airports. In 2016, Ryanair was the largest European airline by scheduled passengers flown, and carried more international passengers than any other airline.
Ryanair operates more than 400 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with a single 737-700 used primarily as a charter aircraft, but also as a backup and for pilot training. The airline has been characterized by its rapid expansion, a result of the deregulation of the aviation industry in Europe in 1997 and the success of its low-cost business model.
Ryanair’s route network serves 37 countries in Europe, Africa (Morocco), and the Middle East (Israel and Jordan).
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