Ryanair strike 2018 – 16 more UK flights cancelled today as pilots protest again – with more strikes this week
RYANAIR has cancelled 16 more flights to the UK today as pilots go on strike.
Cancelled flights are all from Ireland and customers will have already been notified by email or text message.
The airline says that these customers will have been offered other flights or will have been given a refund.
Pilots employed in Dublin are in dispute over seniority, promotion and annual leave.
Sun Online Travel contacted Ryanair for comment. A statement from the airline reads: "All 28 first wave Dublin airport departed on schedule this morning with lots families travelling on holidays, thanks to the majority (75 per cent) of our pilots who are working normally."
“We apologise to the 2,500 Irish customers whose flights today (Tuesday) were cancelled last Thursday.
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"[They] were re-accommodated/refunded over the weekend due to a third unnecessary strike by the small minority (25 per cent) of our Irish pilots (who earn €150,000 - €200,000 per annum) over ‘seniority and base transfer proposals, which they can’t explain and which don’t even affect them.”
On July 24 Ryanair posted a statement saying: "Since FORSA has again failed to answer our call to cancel the 3rd strike by a small minority (25%) of our Irish pilots (who earn between €150,000 - €200,000), we regrettably have cancelled just 16 (5%) of over 290 Irish flights next Tues 24 July (only some IRE-UK flights affected).
"All 2,500 affected Irish customers have already been notified by email/SMS and will be readily re-accommodated (or refunded) on other Ryanair flights between IRE-UK routes over the next 7 days. "
Today’s pilot strike follows on from last Friday’s walkout, which affected more than 4,000 passengers.
Cabin crew also will walk out this week on Wednesday and Thursday with flights to Portugal, Spain and Belgium affected during peak summer holiday time.
The airline won't run 600 of their 4,800 flights over the two days to minimise disruption to customers from strikes by cabin crew in Belgium, Portugal and Spain.
Ryanair said that they had text messaged or emailed 50,000 customers to let them know their flights have been cancelled.
Pilots who are members of the Irish trade union walked out for the first time on Thursday, July 12, in a row over working practices.
A second strike took place on Friday, July 20, with more than 4,000 passengers told their flight between Ireland and the UK had been cancelled.
Caroline Vicente, a travel expert at the firm, said: "As Ryanair is a European airline, if you are due to travel during this time and your flight is cancelled you are protected.
"You have the option to take an alternative flight with the airline to your destination, or cancel your flight and claim a full refund.
"If the alternative flight Ryanair offer isn't at the right time for you, Ryanair is legally required to book you on a comparable flight with them or an alternative airline. You should not be charged more for this."
But passengers who opt for a refund should be aware that the airline do not have a duty of care for you after you have received it, meaning they are responsible for booking their own replacement flight.
What have Ryanair said about cabin crew strikes?
Ryanair’s Kenny Jacobs said: “Ryanair sincerely apologises to our customers for these disruption, which we have done our utmost to avoid.
“Given that our Ryanair cabin crew enjoy great pay – up to €40,000 per year (£36,600).
He continued: "(They have) industry leading rosters (14 days off each month), great sales commissions, uniform allowances and sick pay, these strikes are entirely unjustified and will achieve nothing other than to disrupt family holidays.”
Cabin crew from across Europe published a list of 34 demands on July 4, including "a fair living wage", improved sick pay and employment contracts in their own language based on local rather than Irish law.
Sun Online Travel previously revealed that Ryanair customers can expect lower fares after the company's profits plunged by 20 per cent in the first quarter of 2018.