7th Sep 2018 15:05
LONDON (Alliance News) - Irish discount airline Ryanair Holdings PLC said Friday that it will restore six Dublin-based aircraft which were due to be transferred to Poland in November, after reaching an agreement with an Irish pilots union on Wednesday.
"The related protective notices issued to 300 Dublin pilots and cabin crew in July have also been withdrawn today," the company said.
The decision was taken in response of a favourable "mediation agreement" which ended "five days of unsuccessful but damaging strikes" by less than 25% of Ryanair's Irish-based pilots in July and August, the company said.
Chief People Officer Eddie Wilson said: "We regret that mediation became necessary after five days of unsuccessful strikes which, despite causing minimal damage to Ryanair's schedules, did damage our forward fares and yields to and from Ireland because of the perception of possible disruptions."
Wilson continued: "Since December last year, when the board announced that we would recognise unions, Ryanair's people have enjoyed significant pay increases, improved terms and conditions, and we have agreed to improved seniority structures, base transfers and annual leave. We have done this in a year when we expect profits to fall by 15% due to a combination of higher fuel prices and higher staff costs."
In July, the company announced it was cutting six planes from its Dublin-based fleet for the winter 2018 season, leading to potential 300 jobs losses.
On Wednesday, however, the Irish Airline Pilots' Association voted to accept Ryanair's agreement, potentially ending a long-running labour dispute that resulted in several strikes this summer.
The union accused Ryanair of attempted "union busting" in July after the airline warned that it could cut 100 pilots and 200 cabin crew from its staff in Ireland as it reduces its Dublin-based fleet from 30 to 24 aircraft over the winter.
Ryanair shares were trading down 1.7% at EUR13.34 each.
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