RYANAIR PILOTS have voted in favour of a 12-month pay freeze with a productivity increase to avoid a proposed 10 per cent cut in pay, the airline said in statement yesterday.
Ryanair had originally sought a pay cut from pilots in response to the economic conditions for the low-fares airline and two consecutive quarters of trading losses at the company.
The Ryanair pilots successfully negotiated an alternative to the proposals.
“Our pilots have recognised the difficulties we face and are making their contribution,” said David O’Brien, the airline’s operations director.
“We are tightening our belt to ensure that Ryanair meets its target of a 5 per cent reduction in unit costs over the coming year,” he said.
Ryanair lost €118.8 million in the third quarter of its financial year and forecast a fourth-quarter loss. The airline said on Monday that it was to axe four routes from Dublin and reduce the frequency of services to eight others in a move that it claimed was in response to rising Government charges.
The Dublin to Basel, Doncaster, Oporto and Teeside routes will end from July, resulting in 50 job losses in Dublin. Ryanair claimed the decision was a reaction to the €10 tourist tax and a proposed increase in air traffic control charges.
Ryanair’s share price finished down 1 per cent on the Iseq index yesterday at €2.84.
