By Sun 24th, over 305,000 alternative routings or refunds (over 97% of affected customers) had been processed.
Ryanair updated its progress on the cancellation of 2,100 of its 130,000 flights in Sept and Oct as follows:
- All 315,000 customers received email notices (on Mon 18th)
- By Sun 24th, over 305,000 alternative routings or refunds (over 97% of affected customers) had been processed
- The remaining 3% of customers (less than 10,000) have yet to contact Ryanair
- Over the last 7 days, Ryanair’s first wave punctuality has improved to 96% (see table below)
- Over the last 7 days, only 3 out of 16,000 flights operated were cancelled (see table below)
Ryanair’s Kenny Jacobs said: “We again apologise sincerely to each of the 315,000 customers whose original flights were cancelled over a 6 week period in September and October. More than 97% of affected customers have now been re-accommodated, and the remaining 3% (less than 10,000 customers) are urged to get in contact regarding their rebooking or refunding options.
No further flights have been cancelled for rostering reasons and our first wave punctuality has increased to 96%, while we continue to work hard to resolve this short term rostering failure. We have expanded our customer service team, who are assisting all affected customers with their requests, as we try to resolve any problems we have created for them, for which we again sincerely apologise.”
Ryanair pilots unite, questionable employment model challenged
Ryanair’s cancellation debacle has exposed structural deficiencies in its business and employment model and a deep disconnect between Ryanair management and its pilots. The public has seen Ryanair pilots state they are ready to support their company, but also that pilots are united in their call for deep changes in the way Ryanair employs and treats them – not least in line with the recent landmark judgment from the European Court of Justice. European pilots express support for their colleagues’ demands and back them wholeheartedly in self-organising as a united pilot body. ECA also calls on institutional investors to initiate structural change and work for an urgently needed social dialogue.
"As widely reported in the media, Ryanair pilots from numerous European bases sent joint letters to their management. These letters are crystal clear. Ryanair’s pilots are taking a firm and unified stance: they want decent working conditions and direct employment contracts", says ECA Vice-President Jon Horne. "They offered a helping hand to their company, to sort out this self-inflicted chaos that has left thousands of passengers stranded. In return, Ryanair pilots haven’t asked for a crude bonus. They want something much simpler – a direct and stable employment contract: governed by the laws of the country where they live and work; in conditions similar to other European pilots; and a meaningful, genuine social dialogue".
Ryanair makes systematic use of contractors and self-employed pilots providing services through temporary agencies, and often subject to zero hours (no flight = no pay). Such working arrangements have a negative impact on working conditions as they can have the effect of limiting access to fundamental benefits such as paid vacation, sickness or maternity leave. This provides flexibility and a lower cost base, but also a highly unstable pilot work-force – as demonstrated by the short time pilots stay at Ryanair.
This atypical employment model is now under pressure from investigations into potential tax and/or social security fraud, such as in Germany, and by the recent judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union. This CJEU decision ruled that Ryanair's crews can seek their labour rights in Courts other than Ireland, thereby refuting Ryanair’s rhetoric of “Irish aircraft = Irish employee”. Instead, the Court states that the ‘home base’ of crews is the most ‘significant indicator’ to determine the employee’s habitual place of work and which labour laws and jurisdiction apply to them. It will empower aircrew to pursue their rights in local courts and allow them to challenge questionable atypical employment set-ups under the laws of their own country.
“This European Court judgment cannot be ignored by Ryanair management, nor by institutional investors”, says Philip von Schoppenthau, ECA Secretary General. “As Ryanair’s management is busy finding quick-fix solutions, we call on investors to take a moment and think about the long-term sustainability of the company and one of its most valuable assets: the employees. We see today that planes – still – need crews to fly them and to bring their passengers safely to their destination”.
Angelos is the news editor for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). His role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy.
He currently studies Communication, Media & Culture in Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens.
