Airline claims more than 95% of UK pilots will work next week despite industrial action

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Ryanair has told its customers that all of its UK flights will take off as scheduled next week, despite the three-day strike called by the pilots’ union Balpa.

The airline said more than 95% of UK pilots had confirmed that they would work their rosters during the industrial action, due to take place on Monday to Wednesday, 2-4 September.

Balpa declined to comment on the claims.

A two-day strike in August by Balpa pilots, which Ryanair had unsuccessfully sought to prevent with a high court injunction, failed to stop any of the 892 daily flights from operating, according to the airline.

Although Balpa has refused to confirm pilot numbers, Ryanair has claimed that fewer than 30% of its 1,250 UK pilots voted for industrial action.

In a statement delivered to customers who have booked travel next week, Ryanair said: “All Ryanair flights to/from UK airports on 2-4 September will operate as scheduled thanks to the efforts of over 95% of our UK pilots who have confirmed that they will work their rosters, and will not support this failed third [sic] Balpa strike action.

Quick guide Coronavirus travel shutdown: what are your rights? Show Hide My flight to Europe is cancelled. All I’m being offered is an alternative flight or vouchers. Is this legal? No. But that hasn’t stopped a number of airlines doing exactly that. All flights on EU carriers within, or into the EU, and all flights leaving from an EU airport, are protected by the EU’s “denied boarding” rules, which require a full refund in seven days when flights are cancelled. The problem for consumers is that enforcing these rights is proving very difficult. After initially promising to refund passengers within 20 working days, Ryanair has now said passengers should accept vouchers valid for 12 months, or wait until the Covid-19 pandemic is over for a refund. Refunds at British Airways are only being processed by customer services which, of course, is impossible to contact. easyJet, initially only offered refunds through customer services but now has a web portal to request refunds. Note: the EU cancellation rules do not apply to non-EU carriers where the flight started outside the EU – for example, a Korean Air flight from Seoul to London. In the face of a no-refund policy, what should I do? Taking the offer of replacement vouchers in the current climate is highly risky given the airline may not be around in six months. While some will be happy to accept vouchers, many will not. Coby Benson of the specialist flight compensation lawyers, Bott and Co, advises passengers to submit their refund request in writing, using the following text: I understand that my flight [fight number] on [flight date] has been cancelled and I therefore request a full refund pursuant to articles 5(1)(a) and 8(1)(a) of EC Regulation No.261/2004. You are reminded that the refund must be made within seven days. For the avoidance of doubt, I do not accept a travel voucher. If the airline does not respond or does not agree then the passenger can either issue court proceedings or use Alternative Dispute Resolution. If your flight cost more than £100 and was booked using a credit card, you can hold the card provider jointly liable. When things calm down we suspect many passengers will be forced down this route. My flight operated as scheduled but I was unable to go on it. What then?

The fact that the government advised against all but essential travel means travel insurance policies should pay foreign trip cancellation claims provided you bought your policy before the pandemic was declared on 11 March. Miles Brignall

“We do not expect any pilot strike disruptions to our schedule.”

Ryanair said that it had invited Balpa to meet to resume negotiations, but the union had refused.

Balpa has said that none of the issues it had raised on behalf of its members in March – including pensions, maternity benefits, and a fair, transparent pay structure – had been addressed by Ryanair.

Ryanair has, however, cancelled 14 flights to and from Spain next week as a result of strikes by Spanish cabin crews. It said all customers affected had already been informed and offered refunds or rebooking.

It called on Spanish unions to return to talks and warned that “the closure of loss-making winter bases in the Canary Islands will not be reversed by these pointless strikes”.

Separately, Balpa said there were currently no talks planned to end a separate dispute with British Airways, where strikes are planned next month.

The union said it was awaiting a response from the BA chief executive, Alex Cruz, to its invitation to talks, following his “personal promise” to be involved.

Brian Strutton, Balpa general secretary, said: “This dispute will only be settled, and these strikes will only be called off, when BA improve their offer enough to satisfy their pilots. Until BA indicate that they are willing to do that, there is absolutely no point in any talks.”

A BA spokesman said: “We have continued to urge Balpa to return to talks since they issued strike dates, and this was reiterated again yesterday [Wednesday] afternoon.

“Our negotiating team is standing by and open to discussion, with Alex Cruz’s full support.”

Balpa’s planned BA action appears to be having more impact, even before strikes take place, as the national carrier suffered more reputational damage at the weekend after many customers were emailed in error to be told that their flights were cancelled. Passengers were later told that the flights would operate after all – after some had rebooked travel.

BA pilots are due to strike on 9, 10 and 27 September.