Ryanair pilots in Germany, Sweden, Belgium and Ireland have voted to stage a 24-hour strike on Friday 10 August, grounding more than 400 flights and wrecking the travel plans of at least 70,000 passengers.
The walkout is part of an ongoing dispute over working conditions, which has already seen pilots who are members of the Irish trade union FORSA stage four separate one-day strikes.
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled should have already been informed via text or email, but all those travelling to/from the affected countries with Ryanair are advised to check with the airline.
Follow all the latest updates below
Live Updates
15:26
Ryanair pilots in Sweden, Belgium and Ireland have confirmed a one-day strike is going ahead on Friday 10 August.
Some 20 of the airline's 300 flights (7 per cent) to and from Ireland have been cancelled, affecting 3,500 passengers. The walkout in Belgium has resulted in the cancellation of 104 flights, while 22 services will be grounded in and out of Sweden.
Ryanair has described the strikes as "unnecessary" and said it will reaccommodate or refund all affected passengers.
The low-cost airline is still awaiting confirmation of whether pilots in Germany and the Netherlands will strike on the same day, but has requested seven days' notice "so that we can notify our customers of cancelled flights in advance and offer them alternative flights or refunds."
Some 20 of the airline's 300 flights (7 per cent) to and from Ireland have been cancelled, affecting 3,500 passengers. The walkout in Belgium has resulted in the cancellation of 104 flights, while 22 services will be grounded in and out of Sweden.
Ryanair has described the strikes as "unnecessary" and said it will reaccommodate or refund all affected passengers.
The low-cost airline is still awaiting confirmation of whether pilots in Germany and the Netherlands will strike on the same day, but has requested seven days' notice "so that we can notify our customers of cancelled flights in advance and offer them alternative flights or refunds."
Ryanair has also taken the step of inviting Ireland's FORSA union to take part in third party mediation.
The airline’s chief people officer, Eddie Wilson, said: "Ryanair now feels the only way to introduce common sense is by way of third party mediation, and to this end is suggesting Mr Kieran Mulvey formerly of the Labour Commission and Workplace Relations Commission.
"His background and experience could be a positive influence."
17:35
As well reaccommodating or refunding affected passengers, Ryanair is obligated to come to the assistance of passengers in the event that a flight is delayed under EU regulation 261/2004.
This means stranded holidaymakers can appeal for meals and accommodation – dependent on the length of the delay and distance of the flight.
When it comes to compensation, however, Ryanair is claiming that the strikes constitute “extraordinary circumstances” beyond the control of the carrier, and has said it will not pay out.
09:20
“Ryanair has been playing for time in the negotiations since January,” VC said in a statement. “If the signal given by this vote is not taken seriously, then strikes - such as in other European countries - are inevitable.”
The union said it will give at least 24 hours’ notice of any strikes.
Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), the German pilots' union, has said it will hold a press conference on 8 August to discuss its next steps - and whether they include joining Irish, Belgian and Swedish Ryanair pilots by striking on Friday.
VC said 96 percent of Ryanair pilots in Germany voted in favour of industrial action.
VC said 96 percent of Ryanair pilots in Germany voted in favour of industrial action.
“Ryanair has been playing for time in the negotiations since January,” VC said in a statement. “If the signal given by this vote is not taken seriously, then strikes - such as in other European countries - are inevitable.”
The union said it will give at least 24 hours’ notice of any strikes.
11:19
Since Ryanair first recognised unions in December 2017, walkouts have been staged multiple times by airline staff in various countries.
One of the most severe was the 48-hour cabin crew strike on 25 and 26 July, which saw a total of 600 flights to and from Spain, Portugal and Belgium cancelled, jeopardising the travel plans of 100,000 passengers.
Disgruntled cabin crew issued a list of 34 demands, ranging from "a fair living wage" to "not being forced to open an Irish bank account".
Ryanair called the demands "pointless", and said its cabin crew earn up to €40,000 annually; work a fixed five-on/three-off roster (a bank holiday weekend every week); work rosters that exceed all EASA minimum rest requirements; and receive free training, sick pay and an annual uniform allowance of €400.
One of the most severe was the 48-hour cabin crew strike on 25 and 26 July, which saw a total of 600 flights to and from Spain, Portugal and Belgium cancelled, jeopardising the travel plans of 100,000 passengers.
Disgruntled cabin crew issued a list of 34 demands, ranging from "a fair living wage" to "not being forced to open an Irish bank account".
Ryanair called the demands "pointless", and said its cabin crew earn up to €40,000 annually; work a fixed five-on/three-off roster (a bank holiday weekend every week); work rosters that exceed all EASA minimum rest requirements; and receive free training, sick pay and an annual uniform allowance of €400.
12:34
Some 40 to 50 pilots in the Netherlands work for Ryanair; they have said they will decide today (7 August) whether to join the strike on Friday.
Dutch pilots union VNV said last Wednesday: "Negotiations for a Dutch Ryanair collective labour agreement between Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Ryanair are ongoing, however we are losing hope for a positive outcome.
"Ryanair needs a 'wake up call' and a strike in the Netherlands might be the only solution."
VNV said ALPA’s demands - which include banning "bogus" self-employment contracts and offering sufficient sick pay and pension provisions - were reasonable and that it would back strike action by Dutch pilots.
Ryanair operates flights out of Eindhoven, Amsterdam and Maastricht airports.
Dutch pilots union VNV said last Wednesday: "Negotiations for a Dutch Ryanair collective labour agreement between Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Ryanair are ongoing, however we are losing hope for a positive outcome.
"Ryanair needs a 'wake up call' and a strike in the Netherlands might be the only solution."
VNV said ALPA’s demands - which include banning "bogus" self-employment contracts and offering sufficient sick pay and pension provisions - were reasonable and that it would back strike action by Dutch pilots.
Ryanair operates flights out of Eindhoven, Amsterdam and Maastricht airports.
15:19
The Swedish Air Line Pilots' Association (SPF) has said Ryanair has consistently refused to negotiate over creating a collective employment agreement.
"All proposals from Ryanair that have been shown to the SPF have meant restrictions on how our members are organized and represented, something that is unacceptable to a union," the SPF said in a statement.
The Swedish pilots' decision to strike has resulted in Ryanair cancelling 22 flights to and from Sweden on Friday 10 August.
"All proposals from Ryanair that have been shown to the SPF have meant restrictions on how our members are organized and represented, something that is unacceptable to a union," the SPF said in a statement.
The Swedish pilots' decision to strike has resulted in Ryanair cancelling 22 flights to and from Sweden on Friday 10 August.
09:39
German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) is holding a press conference this morning at 10am GMT to announce its next steps, which are expected to include joining colleagues from Sweden, Belgium and Ireland in staging a 24-hour strike on 10 August.
A VC spokesman said that a midnight deadline had passed on Tuesday without an improved offer for pay and conditions being made by Ryanair.
If it goes ahead, the walkout would likely include all 400 German Ryanair pilots.
A VC spokesman said that a midnight deadline had passed on Tuesday without an improved offer for pay and conditions being made by Ryanair.
If it goes ahead, the walkout would likely include all 400 German Ryanair pilots.
10:22
BREAKING: German Ryanair pilots will strike on Friday, the pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit has confirmed.
They will join colleagues in Sweden, Belgium and Ireland to stage a 24-hour walkout that will ground hundreds of flights.
The strike will start at 1.01am GMT on Friday, affecting all Ryanair flights from Germany.
They will join colleagues in Sweden, Belgium and Ireland to stage a 24-hour walkout that will ground hundreds of flights.
The strike will start at 1.01am GMT on Friday, affecting all Ryanair flights from Germany.
10:36
The VC union said in a statement it is calling all permanent pilots employed at Ryanair bases in Germany to strike - about 400 employees in total.
"We demand improvements in pay and working conditions," said Martin Locher, president of VC. "Improvements are inconceivable without an increase in personnel cockpit costs. During negotiations Ryanair categorically ruled out any such increases. At the same time, Ryanair has not shown any interest to find solutions.
"It is only Ryanair which is responsible for the escalation which has now taken place."
It is not yet clear how many flights will be grounded as a result of the German pilots' strike.
"We demand improvements in pay and working conditions," said Martin Locher, president of VC. "Improvements are inconceivable without an increase in personnel cockpit costs. During negotiations Ryanair categorically ruled out any such increases. At the same time, Ryanair has not shown any interest to find solutions.
"It is only Ryanair which is responsible for the escalation which has now taken place."
It is not yet clear how many flights will be grounded as a result of the German pilots' strike.
14:03
Ryanair has cancelled 250 more flights due to the walk-out by German pilots on Friday.
Around 45,000 passengers are to be given 48 hours’ notice or less that their flights have been cancelled.
Ryanair said: "Vereinigung Cockpit pilot union in Germany have today called an unnecessary strike next Friday (10 Aug) and we have regrettably been forced to cancel 250 flights to/from Germany out of 2,400 scheduled flights across Europe.
"We apologise to our customers for the disruption."
The airline has said it will notify all affected passengers by email or SMS by 3pm today, and will re-accommodate them on other Ryanair flights or refund their ticket.
Around 45,000 passengers are to be given 48 hours’ notice or less that their flights have been cancelled.
Ryanair said: "Vereinigung Cockpit pilot union in Germany have today called an unnecessary strike next Friday (10 Aug) and we have regrettably been forced to cancel 250 flights to/from Germany out of 2,400 scheduled flights across Europe.
"We apologise to our customers for the disruption."
The airline has said it will notify all affected passengers by email or SMS by 3pm today, and will re-accommodate them on other Ryanair flights or refund their ticket.
14:36
Ryanair's chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said of the German pilots' union decision to strike:
"We regret the decision of the VC to go ahead with this unnecessary strike action given that we sent through a revised proposal on a Collective Labour Agreement (on Friday 3 August) and stated our intention to work towards achieving a CLA together.
"We also invited VC to meet us on Tuesday (7 August) but they did not respond to this invitation.
"Our pilots in Germany enjoy excellent working conditions. They are paid up to €190,000 p.a. and, as well as additional benefits, they received a 20 per cent pay increase at the start of this year. Ryanair pilots earn at least 30 per cent more than Eurowings and 20 per cent more than Norwegian pilots."
The airline said it had asked VC to give at least seven days' notice of strike action and called the walkout "unnecessary".
However, VC said in a statement that since 30 July, when 96 per cent of its members voted for industrial action, "no improved offer has been received from Dublin.
"In its letter to VC dated last week, Ryanair management confined itself to repeating and summarizing what they considered to be the most relevant negotiating positions instead."
"We regret the decision of the VC to go ahead with this unnecessary strike action given that we sent through a revised proposal on a Collective Labour Agreement (on Friday 3 August) and stated our intention to work towards achieving a CLA together.
"We also invited VC to meet us on Tuesday (7 August) but they did not respond to this invitation.
"Our pilots in Germany enjoy excellent working conditions. They are paid up to €190,000 p.a. and, as well as additional benefits, they received a 20 per cent pay increase at the start of this year. Ryanair pilots earn at least 30 per cent more than Eurowings and 20 per cent more than Norwegian pilots."
The airline said it had asked VC to give at least seven days' notice of strike action and called the walkout "unnecessary".
However, VC said in a statement that since 30 July, when 96 per cent of its members voted for industrial action, "no improved offer has been received from Dublin.
"In its letter to VC dated last week, Ryanair management confined itself to repeating and summarizing what they considered to be the most relevant negotiating positions instead."
14:53
“Nowhere else in Europe has Ryanair started this type of lawsuit in recent months. The VNV is also surprised because we didn’t announce a strike of Ryanair pilots in the Netherlands.”
Ryanair's case is scheduled to be heard on 9 August at 3.30pm in Haarlem.
BREAKING: Ryanair is going to court to attempt to prevent pilots in the Netherlands from striking over the summer, according to The Dutch Airline Pilots Association (VNV).
The union said in a statement: “The Dutch Airline Pilots Association (VNV) is surprised but also furious about this attack on Dutch labour rights.
“Nowhere else in Europe has Ryanair started this type of lawsuit in recent months. The VNV is also surprised because we didn’t announce a strike of Ryanair pilots in the Netherlands.”
Ryanair's case is scheduled to be heard on 9 August at 3.30pm in Haarlem.
15:29
Others worried about accommodation costs which they cannot reclaim from Ryanair.
"So our flights have been cancelled due to the strike but what about Airbnb that we have booked?" tweeted Lauren Dougherty.
"Only alternative flight would mean less than 48 hours there before we have to come home and a wasted £250 on accommodation! So disappointing."
Hundreds of Ryanair passengers have already expressed their disappointment with the airline on social media.
Nathan Buxton tweeted: "Thanks to Ryanair cancelling German flights my wedding on Saturday will be without my best man or half of my family, thank you for ruining what was suppose to be the best day of my life you are disgraceful, I have spent a lot of money for these people and you have now ruined it."
Nathan Buxton tweeted: "Thanks to Ryanair cancelling German flights my wedding on Saturday will be without my best man or half of my family, thank you for ruining what was suppose to be the best day of my life you are disgraceful, I have spent a lot of money for these people and you have now ruined it."
Others worried about accommodation costs which they cannot reclaim from Ryanair.
"So our flights have been cancelled due to the strike but what about Airbnb that we have booked?" tweeted Lauren Dougherty.
"Only alternative flight would mean less than 48 hours there before we have to come home and a wasted £250 on accommodation! So disappointing."
16:16
Ryanair is using different tactics to nearly every other airline when faced with industrial action.
Independent travel correspondent Simon Calder said: "Ryanair is relying on its size and its fares to see it through the rest of a tumultuous summer and what could be a long, cold winter in what looks increasingly like a war of attrition against the established aviation order."
Despite striking pilots in four countries causing the cancellation of nearly 400 flights, such is the scale of the airline that five out of six passengers will fly as planned on Friday.
Independent travel correspondent Simon Calder said: "Ryanair is relying on its size and its fares to see it through the rest of a tumultuous summer and what could be a long, cold winter in what looks increasingly like a war of attrition against the established aviation order."
Despite striking pilots in four countries causing the cancellation of nearly 400 flights, such is the scale of the airline that five out of six passengers will fly as planned on Friday.
09:31
Ryanair pilots in the Netherlands will join the strike on Friday. The Dutch Airline Pilots Association said in a statement:
"This European pilot strike should be a wake up call for the Ryanair management.
"Our goal is clear: Ryanair must change and respect the rights of their workers."
The decision was in response to a move by Ryanair to block industrial action by Dutch pilots over the summer. Haarlem court is due to consider the proposed injunction today.
"This European pilot strike should be a wake up call for the Ryanair management.
"Our goal is clear: Ryanair must change and respect the rights of their workers."
The decision was in response to a move by Ryanair to block industrial action by Dutch pilots over the summer. Haarlem court is due to consider the proposed injunction today.
18:30
BREAKING: Ryanair's court case to stop pilots in the Netherlands from striking, heard this afternoon, appears to have been lost.
Dutch pilots' union VNV tweeted: "Victory! The strike on 10 August will go on."
Dutch pilots will join colleagues in Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Ireland in Friday's 24-hour walkout.
It is not yet clear how many flights to and from the Netherlands will be grounded as a result.
Dutch pilots' union VNV tweeted: "Victory! The strike on 10 August will go on."
Dutch pilots will join colleagues in Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Ireland in Friday's 24-hour walkout.
It is not yet clear how many flights to and from the Netherlands will be grounded as a result.
08:26
Despite Dutch pilots' union VNV winning yesterday's court case against Ryanair to have the right to strike, the airline has said no Ryanair flights to or from the Netherlands are cancelled today.
Ryanair said in a statement: "As Ryanair's pilots have decided to work on Friday 10 August to prevent disruption to our customers travelling on their summer holidays, we are confirming that all of our flights to/from the Netherlands will operate as scheduled.
"There will be no cancellations as a result of the unnecessary strike action by the Dutch pilot union (VNV-DALPA) in the Netherlands.
"Ryanair fully supports the right of Dutch pilots to strike but request that we and our customers are given seven days' notice so we can minimise disruption."
Ryanair pilots in Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Ireland will go ahead with a planned 24-hour strike today, grounded 400 flights and affecting approximately 70,000 passengers.
Ryanair said in a statement: "As Ryanair's pilots have decided to work on Friday 10 August to prevent disruption to our customers travelling on their summer holidays, we are confirming that all of our flights to/from the Netherlands will operate as scheduled.
"There will be no cancellations as a result of the unnecessary strike action by the Dutch pilot union (VNV-DALPA) in the Netherlands.
"Ryanair fully supports the right of Dutch pilots to strike but request that we and our customers are given seven days' notice so we can minimise disruption."
Ryanair pilots in Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Ireland will go ahead with a planned 24-hour strike today, grounded 400 flights and affecting approximately 70,000 passengers.
09:51
Ryanair has called today's strike action from pilots in five countries "regrettable and unjustified" and said it has done everything possible to minimise the disruption caused to passengers.
The airline said in a statement: "Over 2,000 Ryanair flights (85 per cent of our schedule) will operate as normal, carrying almost 400,000 customers across Europe.
"We want to again apologise to customers affected by this unnecessary disruption and we ask the striking unions to continue negotiations instead of calling any more unjustified strikes."
The airline said in a statement: "Over 2,000 Ryanair flights (85 per cent of our schedule) will operate as normal, carrying almost 400,000 customers across Europe.
"We want to again apologise to customers affected by this unnecessary disruption and we ask the striking unions to continue negotiations instead of calling any more unjustified strikes."
