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Ryanair to cancel flights affecting 400,000 more passengers Ryanair to cancel flights affecting 400,000 more passengers
(about 4 hours later)
Ryanair is cancelling another 18,000 flights between November and March, affecting 400,000 passengers. Ryanair has announced a second wave of flight cancellations affecting 400,000 customers due to its rostering “mess-up”, with pilots casting doubt on its vow that no more would follow.
The airline said it had emailed all of the customers affected, offering them the choice between a refund or an alternative flight. They will also receive a travel voucher for £40 one-way or £80 return that can be used to book a Ryanair flight for travel between October and March 2018. The no-frills airline will scrap 18,000 flights on 34 routes between November and March and has emailed affected customers to offer a refund or an alternative flight.
It announced the temporary suspension of 34 routes over the winter, including London Stansted to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Gatwick to Belfast, Newcastle to Faro, and Glasgow to Las Palmas. They will also receive a travel voucher for £40 one-way or £80 return that can be used to book a Ryanair flight for travel between October and March 2018.
The move means further disruption for Ryanair passengers after the no-frills carrier announced plans this month to cancel up to 50 flights a day until 31 October, citing a “mess-up” in how it schedules time off for pilots. The move affected 315,000 customers. Affected routes include London Stansted to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Gatwick to Belfast, Newcastle to Faro, and Glasgow to Las Palmas.
Announcing the latest cancellations on Wednesday, the airline’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, apologised to customers for the second time this month but said the changes were “sensible”. The move means further woe for Ryanair passengers after the Dublin-based carrier announced plans earlier this month to cancel up to 50 flights a day until 31 October, citing a mess-up in how it schedules time off for pilots, affecting 315,000 customers.
“We sincerely apologise to those customers who have been affected by last week’s flight cancellations, or these sensible schedule changes announced today,” he said. At the time, Ryanair dismissed a Guardian report that the disruption might not be over, saying: “There will be no further cancellations as a result of this rostering failure.”
“From today, there will be no more rostering-related flight cancellations this winter or in summer 2018. Slower growth this winter will create lots of spare aircraft and crews which will allow us to manage the exceptional volumes of annual leave we committed to delivering in the nine months to Dec 2017. We will start a new 12-month leave period on 1 January 2018 in full compliance with EU regulations and the IAA’s requirements.” Revealing the new wave of cancellations on Wednesday, the airline’s outspoken chief executive, Michael O’Leary, apologised to customers for the second time but defended the changes. “We sincerely apologise to those customers who have been affected by last week’s flight cancellations, or these sensible schedule changes announced today,” he said.
The airline said cancelling thousands of flights over the winter would eliminate all risk of further flight cancellations. It put the total cost to the business associated with the two waves of cancellations at less than €50m (£44m). “From today, there will be no more rostering-related flight cancellations this winter or in summer 2018. Slower growth this winter will create lots of spare aircraft and crews, which will allow us to manage the exceptional volumes of annual leave we committed to delivering in the nine months to December 2017. We will start a new 12-month leave period on 1 January 2018 in full compliance with EU regulations and the IAA’s requirements.”
Ryanair is also pulling out of its plans to bid for Alitalia, Italy’s bankrupt airline. “In order to focus on repairing this rostering problem this winter, Ryanair will eliminate all management distractions starting with its interest in Alitalia,” the company said. The airline said cancelling thousands of flights over the winter would eliminate all risk of further flight cancellations.
But former and current Ryanair pilots, among them several who warned last week of further cancellations, said anger about working conditions could lead to more problems.
“It all depends if we manage to unionise,” said one current Ryanair pilot. He added that he and colleagues might “work to rule”, meaning they would stop doing things they are not obliged to contractually, but which help the airline manage its tight schedule.
This includes turning up for work early to ensure punctuality and fielding telephone calls from the company during days off.
“That would cause significant delays and some cancellations,” he said. “Striking is only a last resort as we don’t want to harm the passengers. We only want Ryanair to reason with us and give similar contracts compared to other airlines – easyJet for example – so ultimately it’s up to Ryanair, and I’m sure they will not listen until we take collective action.”
“They cannot rule it [fresh cancellations] out,” said one former pilot, who is in touch with former colleagues.
Both spoke on condition of anonymity in case their job prospects were affected.
Ryanair estimated the total cost of its cancellations at less than €50m (£44m) but said this would not change its prediction of annual net profit of between €1.4bn (£1.2bn) and €1.45bn.
But it admitted the cancellations would slow its rapid growth, with 6 million fewer passengers due to fly with the airline by 2019 than otherwise would have. It will also reduce fares as it seeks to prevent further damage to its reputation.
The blunder has also forced Ryanair to pull out of its plans to bid for Alitalia, Italy’s bankrupt flag carrier. Ryanair said it wanted to “eliminate all management distractions”.
Hannah Maundrell, editor-in-chief of money.co.uk, said the latest flight cancellations were frustrating for customers.Hannah Maundrell, editor-in-chief of money.co.uk, said the latest flight cancellations were frustrating for customers.
“It’s so disappointing for Ryanair passengers whose flights have been cancelled, even with more notice this time it’s still seriously frustrating. Ryanair are still in a mess here, but you shouldn’t be left out of pocket,” she said. “It’s so disappointing for Ryanair passengers whose flights have been cancelled, even with more notice this time it’s still seriously frustrating,” she said.
“If your flight has been cancelled, ask for a refund. You should get your money back within seven days or given an alternative flight. This should also apply to connecting flights you miss as a result, as long as they were booked together.” Twitter users reported problems rebooking and speaking to customer service representatives on Ryanair’s website as they tried to rescue holiday plans and make alternative arrangements for business trips.
#Ryanair is a #failure drops my flight, website doesn't work for rebooking, nor chat, nor phone support. #EpicFail #CustomerExperience
@Ryanair good luck rebooking. The online flight change service doesn't work - i can only change one leg
Ryanair dismissed suggestions that its scheduling problems have been exacerbated by an overall shortage of pilots, insisting that it has recruited 186 since the problem began and has a long waiting list of applicants. But it declined to say how many of the pilots on its waiting list have the number of flying hours required to be a captain.
A former Ryanair pilot said: “There will be a large waiting list at what I call cadet level. The problem is that when experienced people leave, you can’t replace them with inexperienced people. You can’t replace a captain with one of those cadets.
“The flying Ryanair does can be more challenging than long-haul. It’s a different challenge. You’re operating at small airports with very little air traffic control and different procedures. You need experience.”
Ryanair also said reports from Irish pilots union IALPA that more than 700 of its pilots have quit in the past year were exaggerated, insisting only 260 have left.
Many of Ryanair’s 4,200 pilots fly for the airline on a temporary contract basis rather than as full employees, a situation that has been a bone of contention for some. In letters that have been circulated among Ryanair pilots at dozens of bases across Europe, some have demanded that the airline ditch the contract model in favour of local employment contracts.
Both pilots and cabin crew have been turning to trade unions for advice and in some cases applying for membership in a bid to secure improved conditions.
But Ryanair said it would not meet unions and would only meet “directly” with its “people”.