(Updated). In an attempt to defuse a potentially damaging strike threat from nearly 80 Ryanair pilots over the Christmas period from December 20, the airline’s management has declared today that it is ready to recognise its pilot unions.

 

The world’s largest airline by international passenger numbers, announced today that it will recognise unions solely representing its employees working in the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain – many of whom are currently threatening to strike next week.

 

Impact, the Irish Air Line Pilots Association  has since received a letter to this effect from Ryanair and indicated its belief that an immediate meeting between Ryanair management and the union is now necessary ‘to clarify issues and make progress’.

 

The decision at Ryanair to suddenly agree to recognise its pilot unions follows a statement on its website earlier this morning, apologising for the imminent disruption to flights that was then expected next week.

 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES….

However, all of this has since changed in the course of a day, with this latest updated statement from Ryanair clearly adopting an altogether more conciliatory tone.

 

The company said:”Ryanair today (Fri 15 Dec) announced that it has written to the pilot unions in Ireland, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal inviting each of them to talks to recognise these unions as the representative body for pilots in Ryanair in each of these countries, as long as they establish Committees of Ryanair pilots to deal with Ryanair issues, as Ryanair will not engage with pilots who fly for competitor airlines in Ireland or elsewhere.

 

“Ryanair will now change its long-standing policy of not recognising unions in order to avoid any threat of disruption to its customers and its flights from pilot unions during Christmas week.

 

“Ryanair now calls on these pilot unions to call off the threatened industrial action on Wednesday 20 December next, so that our customers can look forward to travelling home for Christmas without the threat or worry of pilot strikes hanging over them.”

 

O’LEARY POINTS TO ‘CHANGE’ AT THE AIRLINE

Adding his comments, which have clearly softened on this issue, Ryanair Ceo Michael O’Leary said: “Christmas flights are very important to our customers and we wish to remove any worry or concern that they may be disrupted by pilot industrial action next week.

 

“If the best way to achieve this is to talk to our pilots through a recognised union process, then we are prepared to do so, and we have written today to these unions inviting them to talks to recognise them and calling on them to cancel the threatened industrial action planned for Christmas week.

 

“Recognising unions will be a significant change for Ryanair, but we have delivered radical change before, most recently when we launched Ryanair Labs and our highly successful Always Getting Better customer improvement programme in 2013.

 

“Putting the needs of our customers first, and avoiding disruption to their Christmas flights, is the reason why we will now deal with our pilots through recognised national union structures and we hope and expect that these structures can and will be agreed with our pilots early in the New Year.”

 

Meanwhile, aside from news of potential ‘peace breaking out’ between the airline and its pilots, Ryanair has also recently reminded its customers that a new cabin bag policy comes into effect on January 15, although this not expected to effect duty free shopping bags.

 

NO NASTY SURPRISES FOR SHOPPERS…

Easyjet is also making changes to its bag rules, but both carriers confirmed earlier this year that passengers will still be allowed to bring one bag of airport shopping onboard free of charge – as long as it fits under the seat in front of them.

 

[For full background, click here: https://www.trbusiness.com/regional-news/europe/ryanair-easyjet-will-still-allow-airport-shopping-onboard/126132].