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Ryanair cancels 250 flights across Europe after strike action Ryanair cancels 250 flights as strike action hits tens of thousands
(35 minutes later)
Tens of thousands of Ryanair passengers across Europe face disruption on Friday after strikes cancelled 250 flights. Tens of thousands of Ryanair passengers across Europe are suffering disruption as strikes cancel 250 flights.
On Thursday, German pilots said they would join those in the Netherlands and Belgium by taking action. Unions claim this is the biggest day of action yet against a series of complaints about conditions by Ryanair workers in a raft of countries.
Cabin crews in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain have also stopped work in a row over contracts and conditions. Ryanair say 35,000 passengers have been affected.
Ryanair has said that 90% of its flights will operate as usual despite the "unnecessary disruption". But it added 90% of flights would operate as normal. Some 20 flights to and from Ryanair's biggest European hub, Stansted, have been cancelled.
It said only around 35,000 passengers out of 400,000 would be affected. The travel editor of the Independent, Simon Calder, said these were mostly to and from Germany.
So far, relatively few flights to and from the UK seem to have been hit. He also said eight Manchester services - to and from Barcelona, Berlin, Faro and Malaga - have been grounded, as well as flights from Birmingham to Lanzarote and East Midlands to Malaga.
The travel editor of the Independent, Simon Calder, said Stansted Airport, which is Ryanair's biggest European hub, had seen about 20 flights cancelled. These were mostly to and from Germany. 'Unjustified' action
He said eight Manchester services - to and from Barcelona, Berlin, Faro and Malaga - have been grounded, as well as flights from Birmingham to Lanzarote and East Midlands to Malaga. Ryanair said the action was taking place in six of its 37 markets and that most of its 400,000 passengers would not be affected.
It called the action "regrettable and unjustified" and apologised to customers.
Action had been planned across a range of countries by pilots and cabin crew earlier this week.
On Thursday, this was boosted by German pilots, who said they would join those in the Netherlands and Belgium by taking action.
Cabin crews in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain have also stopped work.
StandardsStandards
Unions want staff to be given contracts in the countries where they live, rather than under Irish law.Unions want staff to be given contracts in the countries where they live, rather than under Irish law.
They say employing staff under Irish law inconveniences workers and affects their ability to access social security benefits.They say employing staff under Irish law inconveniences workers and affects their ability to access social security benefits.
Chief executive Michael O'Leary said the company had written to unions offering to move all staff to local contracts, which made the strike action "unnecessary".Chief executive Michael O'Leary said the company had written to unions offering to move all staff to local contracts, which made the strike action "unnecessary".
However, the Dutch pilots union said it had only verbally offered its members local contracts and had refused to put the offer in writing.However, the Dutch pilots union said it had only verbally offered its members local contracts and had refused to put the offer in writing.
Joost Van Doesburg, of the VNV union, said his members also wanted pensions in line with Dutch standards, and firmer guarantees on sick pay.Joost Van Doesburg, of the VNV union, said his members also wanted pensions in line with Dutch standards, and firmer guarantees on sick pay.
The German pilots' union said it could not rule out further strikes.The German pilots' union said it could not rule out further strikes.
Analysis:Analysis:
Tom Burridge, BBC transport correspondentTom Burridge, BBC transport correspondent
Meet with Michael O'Leary and beyond the bullish facade, this multi-faceted dispute is more complex and potentially damaging than he is willing to let on.Meet with Michael O'Leary and beyond the bullish facade, this multi-faceted dispute is more complex and potentially damaging than he is willing to let on.
The roots of today's row stretch back to autumn last year when Ryanair 400,000 Ryanair passengers had their flights cancelled.The roots of today's row stretch back to autumn last year when Ryanair 400,000 Ryanair passengers had their flights cancelled.
The airline did not have enough pilots to honour its schedule. It was in Mr O'Leary's words "a mess of our own making".The airline did not have enough pilots to honour its schedule. It was in Mr O'Leary's words "a mess of our own making".
The subsequent decision to start recognising pilot and cabin crew unions around Europe was a multinational can-of-worms.The subsequent decision to start recognising pilot and cabin crew unions around Europe was a multinational can-of-worms.
Some deals with some unions in some countries have been done.Some deals with some unions in some countries have been done.
But overall there is plenty to resolve and incendiary language, on both sides, is the flavour of the day.But overall there is plenty to resolve and incendiary language, on both sides, is the flavour of the day.
Social rightsSocial rights
Ryanair this week signed deals with cabin crew unions in Italy to provide employment contracts under Italian law and agreed to arbitration with the union representing its German pilots.Ryanair this week signed deals with cabin crew unions in Italy to provide employment contracts under Italian law and agreed to arbitration with the union representing its German pilots.
The European Commission said Ryanair employees should have contracts in the countries where they live rather than in Ireland, where its planes are registered.The European Commission said Ryanair employees should have contracts in the countries where they live rather than in Ireland, where its planes are registered.
EU social affairs commissioner Marianne Thyssen told Mr O'Leary at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday that EU rules on employment of air crews were based on where workers left in the morning and returned in the evening - and not where aircraft were registered.EU social affairs commissioner Marianne Thyssen told Mr O'Leary at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday that EU rules on employment of air crews were based on where workers left in the morning and returned in the evening - and not where aircraft were registered.
"Respecting EU law is not something over which workers should have to negotiate, nor is it something which can be done differently from country to country," Ms Thyssen said."Respecting EU law is not something over which workers should have to negotiate, nor is it something which can be done differently from country to country," Ms Thyssen said.
"The internal market is not a jungle - it has clear rules on fair labour mobility and worker protection. This is not an academic debate, but about concrete social rights of workers.""The internal market is not a jungle - it has clear rules on fair labour mobility and worker protection. This is not an academic debate, but about concrete social rights of workers."
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled were contacted by email and text message on Tuesday to advise them of their options.Passengers whose flights have been cancelled were contacted by email and text message on Tuesday to advise them of their options.
"We sincerely apologise to those customers affected by these unnecessary strikes on Friday which we have done our utmost to avoid," Ryanair said."We sincerely apologise to those customers affected by these unnecessary strikes on Friday which we have done our utmost to avoid," Ryanair said.
RethinkRethink
It has rejected calls by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority to compensate passengers whose flights have been cancelled, claiming they were caused by "competitor airline crew, unions and lobby groups" and were therefore "extraordinary circumstances".It has rejected calls by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority to compensate passengers whose flights have been cancelled, claiming they were caused by "competitor airline crew, unions and lobby groups" and were therefore "extraordinary circumstances".
However, Coby Benson, a lawyer specialising in flight delay compensation at Bott and Co, said Ryanair's arguments did not comply with the precedent set in April by a case in Germany.However, Coby Benson, a lawyer specialising in flight delay compensation at Bott and Co, said Ryanair's arguments did not comply with the precedent set in April by a case in Germany.
Last month, Ryanair pilots across Europe staged a co-ordinated 24-hour strike to push their demands for better pay and conditions, plunging tens of thousands of passengers into transport chaos at the height of the summer holiday season.Last month, Ryanair pilots across Europe staged a co-ordinated 24-hour strike to push their demands for better pay and conditions, plunging tens of thousands of passengers into transport chaos at the height of the summer holiday season.
In July, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers.In July, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers.
Another indication of the company's rethink on contracts came on Thursday when it announced two new bases in France. They will be the first in the country since it closed Marseille in early 2011 after being sued for employing French workers on Irish contracts.Another indication of the company's rethink on contracts came on Thursday when it announced two new bases in France. They will be the first in the country since it closed Marseille in early 2011 after being sued for employing French workers on Irish contracts.
It will also open another base at Bordeaux for summer 2019 and had another four under consideration.It will also open another base at Bordeaux for summer 2019 and had another four under consideration.
Two aircraft will be based at both Marseille and Bordeaux and will offer a total of 64 routes and handle 3.5 million passengers a year.Two aircraft will be based at both Marseille and Bordeaux and will offer a total of 64 routes and handle 3.5 million passengers a year.