Ryanair pilots have begun a three-day strike in a long-running dispute with the airline over pay and working conditions.
UK-employed pilots belonging to the British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa) are staging the first of three days of walkouts from Monday after voting strongly in favour of industrial action in August and September.
Thousands of passengers are preparing for disruption to their travel plans but the Irish airline has insisted it expects to operate a normal schedule for the next 72 hours.
The latest round of strikes come only days after pilots carried out an earlier 48-hour walkout from August 22-23, although passengers were met with minimal disruption to their journeys during this earlier strike.
Ryanair has previously said that it invited Balpa to meet this week to resume negotiations and avoid further strikes, but that the union “refused to take these repeated invitations.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the Ryanair strikes happening this September:
Why are Ryanair pilots striking?
Balpa said the strike is down to a row over pay and working conditions. A union statement previously cited disputes over "loss of license insurance, maternity benefits, allowances, and a fair, transparent, and consistent pay structure".
Ryanair hit back at "unreasonable pay demands that captains pay be doubled from £170,000 to over £375,700."
The airline also slammed Balpa and claimed the strike could "severely damage Ryanair's business and UK pilot jobs" weeks before Brexit.
Balpa pilots announced the walkout after an industrial ballot held by the union saw 80 per cent of pilots vote in favour of strike action, with a 72 per cent turnout amongst Balpa members.
When are the strikes planned?
Balpa pilots are set to go ahead with industrial action in the UK on September 2-4.
Which flights will be affected?
Ahead of the scheduled strikes, Ryanair has assured passengers that flights to and from UK airports will operate as normal.
The airline said in a statement: “All Ryanair flights to/from UK airports on Monday 2nd, Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th will operate as scheduled thanks to the efforts of over 95 per cent of our UK pilots who have confirmed that they will work their rosters, and will not support this failed third Balpa strike action.”
If there are any changes to your flight, Ryanair should inform you over text or email.
Am I entitled to compensation for cancelled flights?
You may be able to claim back costs caused as a result of a delayed or cancelled flight – for example, accommodation costs or food and drink while waiting at an airport.
However, unlike delays for other reasons, airlines are not obligated to offer compensation following industrial action because strikes are usually considered to be ‘extraordinary circumstances.’
Following strike action last year, Ryanair were ordered by the Civil Aviation Authority to pay compensation of €250 to €400 per passenger, so if the strikes go ahead, it’s possible that travellers affected could be entitled to a similar figure.
