Ryanair's rebel pilots agree to train on new jets

Seven Ryanair pilots who have been in dispute with the airline for several months have agreed to train on the airline's new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, but they retain the right to pursue legal action against the company.

Ryanair recently made what it described as its "12th and final" offer to the pilots. In the offer it said if pilots wanted to pay for their own training this would allow them to maintain various claims and legal proceedings against the company. Under the offer they would also be guaranteed a Dublin base.

The pilots, it is understood, have now accepted this offer. But action via the High Court, Labour Court and Labour Relations Commission has not been ruled out. Ryanair for its part refused to comment yesterday.

The company recently sent the pilots a redundancy notice and it is not clear whether these will now be withdrawn. The company is expected to make a statement on Monday. Some pilots are expected to turn up for training this Monday on the new aircraft.

Sources claim the atmosphere between pilots and the company remains tense. Some pilots have indicated they are seeking employment elsewhere and they may pursue legal action against Ryanair.

Ryanair has for the last few weeks grown increasingly exasperated with the pilots, accusing them of prevarication and stalling. The company points out that Dublin pilots were aware since 1998 that the old 737-200 fleet would be withdrawn on or before 2005. The airline claims that despite this, pilots turned down 11 opportunities to attend a training course.

The pilots meanwhile appear keen to pursue the company through the various industrial relations fora, but full scale court actions by a large number of pilots has not been ruled out.

It is not clear how many of the company's pilots will turn up for training on Monday. According to sources several pilots cannot attend because they are rostered for normal work, while others are on leave overseas.

Meanwhile several pilots at Aer Lingus are pursuing bullying and victimisation claims against the airline, union sources claim. These are currently going through the airline's internal procedures.