Ryanair cancels 24 flights due to pilot strike

Irish airline Ryanair was forced to cancel 24 flights on Friday as a quarter of its pilots went on strike over pay and work conditions.

Flights between Ireland and the UK were cancelled and the airline warned that there could be another 16 cancellations next Tuesday if pilots strike for a third day.

In a letter to the Irish Pilots' union Forsa, Ryanair's chief people officer Eddie Wilson said: "Forsa committed to getting back to Ryanair as to how this matter could be resolved so thousands more Irish holidaymakers do not have their peak season travel plans disrupted by a small group of pilots who can't explain what they want and are unaffected by base transfers.

"It is unacceptable that 24 hours later we have had no response from Forsa, and find ourselves with a threatened third day of strike action next Tuesday.

"Unless we hear back from Forsa by 1900hrs this evening calling off this third unnecessary strike (which is supported by just 25% of our Irish Pilots), we will issue cancellations tomorrow". .

Ryanair issued an apology to affected customers on Twitter this morning after the cancellations were announced.

The tweet read: "We apologise to these 4,000 Irish customers whose flights were cancelled (and re-accommodated/refunded) due to today’s 2nd unnecessary strike by less than 25% of our Irish pilots (who earn €150,000 - €200,000 p.a.) over ‘seniority and base transfer’ proposals which they can’t explain and which don’t even affect them.

"We call on FORSA to cancel the 3rd strike (next Tue 24th) which is supported by less than 25% of our Irish pilots.

"Our pilots should resolve these issues through our working group and not disrupt any more customer holidays."

Ryanair also cancelled a further 600 flights next week due to a cabin crew strike in Belgium, Portugal and Spain, where workers will walk out for 48 hours on 25 and 26 July. Approximately 50,000 customers will be affected but around 85% have already been re-accommodated, according to the airline.

Customers affected have the option of taking an alternative flight with the airline or cancelling it with a full refund. If the customer was given 14 days or less notice of the cancellation he or she is also entitled to compensation.