Holidaymakers face further disruptions this week after Ryanair confirmed yesterday that a further 24 flights between Ireland and Britain will be cancelled on Friday due to strike action.
The airline said about 100 members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) - part of trade union Fórsa - will again be taking industrial action following last Thursday’s one-day stoppage.
About 100 of Ryanair's 350 pilots in Ireland are members of Ialpa, which last week announced further action for July 20th and 24th.
Ryanair apologised for the cancellation and said it had contacted customers affected. The airline said it was assisting them with refunds and free transfers to alternative flights .
The airline said the industrial action, which centres on a dispute over base transfers, promotions, leave and other issues, was unnecessary.
It said it has previously written to pilots addressing their concerns and offered to set up a working committee to explain the issues and asked them to postpone their strike.
“Sadly, 24 flights between Ireland and the UK . . .will be cancelled because a quarter of our Irish pilots (who earn between €150,000 to 200,000 per annum and enjoy the best working conditions of perhaps any group of Irish workers) want to pursue a set of demands which they don’t understand and can’t explain, because they are drafted by a tiny handful of Aer Lingus pilots,” it said.
Last Thursday’s stoppages, which marked the first ever strike at the airline, saw 30 flights cancelled between Ireland and Britain.
The union has said it has invited management to talks this week but is still awaiting a response.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission for Aviation Regulation reminded passengers that their rights are protected under European legislation and it is important they are aware of their entitlements.
These are that Ryanair must offer re-routing as soon as possible, at a later date at the passenger’s convenience or a refund.
If a passenger chooses to be re-routed as soon as possible, Ryanair must provide care and assistance, during the wait for the alternative flight, including meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time and hotel accommodation where an overnight stay becomes necessary.
Passengers are entitled to compensation where a flight is cancelled or delayed by more than 3 hours except where in extraordinary circumstances.
