Ryanair agrees to recognise UK pilots' union

Budget airline had previously refused to negotiate with BALPA

BALPA will represent Ryanair’s 600 pilots based in the UK (AFP/Getty)

Ryanair has agreed to recognise the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) to represent all of the airline’s 600 employed pilots based in the UK.

The budget airline, which is the biggest in Europe, had previously refused to deal with trade unions.

Last autumn what Ryanair called “a perfect storm of one-off pilot shortages” caused the cancellation of around 20,000 flights through the winter. The airline said the crew shortage was caused by three factors: allocating a calendar month of annual leave to more than half its pilots between September and December; “mis-managed blockages” in the training of 200 new recruits; and a failure to address the transition to a different “flight-time limitations” cycle.

The issue also triggered pay rises for pilots amid growing discontent about the airline’s treatment of flight crew.

Just before Christmas Ryanair said that it was willing to enter into discussions about recognising pilots’ unions in major European countries, including the UK.

Today that has concluded in a deal with the biggest union, BALPA. Brian Strutton, the union’s general secretary, said: “I want to pay tribute to the Ryanair pilots who have themselves brought about this change in attitude from Ryanair management.

“I also want to thank Ryanair management for their professional attitude throughout this short process.

“While we were initially sceptical about Ryanair’s sincerity in offering recognition to us and other unions, our conversations and meetings with them have shown that they are genuine in wanting a constructive trade union relationship.”

Ryanair’s chief people officer, Eddie Wilson, said: “This agreement validates the decision of Ryanair’s Board in December to recognise unions, and the fact that we have delivered pay rises of up to 20 per cent and union recognition for our pilots in our largest market, shows how serious Ryanair is about working constructively with unions that are willing to work constructively with us.

“Today’s agreement between Ryanair and BALPA shows that Ryanair can work with unions that wish to work with us to promote the interests of both our pilots and our customers.”

The union is also convening an advisory group for Ryanair contractor pilots who are not employed directly by the airline.

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive, has said the decision to recognise trade unions will not affect full-year profits guidance of €1.4bn to €1.45bn to the end of March 2018.