Ryanair issues complaint to European Commission over crew dispute
Ryanair has complained to the European Commission about alleged interference by rival airlines in its dispute with crew.
It has submitted a complaint to the Commission about ‘anti-competitive’ behaviour of certain competitor airline crew, unions and lobby groups, which it says is impeding its negotiations with pilots and cabin crew.
Chief Michael O’Leary said in certain countries, most notably in Portugal, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden, negotiations are being held back becasue of the interference of competitor airline pilots and cabin crew who are ‘conspiring to call repeated and unnecessary strikes’.
"We are not aware of any other multi-national company in Europe where its union negotiations are interfered with by competitor employees," he said.
"Volkswagen’s union negotiations do not take place with Peugeot car workers. Tesco is not required to meet with ASDA employees. Yet in Ryanair currently, we are being asked to negotiate with pilots and/or cabin crew of Aer Lingus, Norwegian, TAP, Eurowings, KLM and Braathens. This is anti-competitive behaviour which damages consumers."
Ryanair has called for an investigation, saying this ‘collective campaigning’ is an ‘unlawful attempt to distort competition and customer choice, for the benefit of legacy airlines’.
A major strike is planned for Friday which has forced Ryanair to cancel 190 flights, affecting 30,000 passengers.
"The majority of Ryanair’s pilots and cabin crew do not support these strikes, and they have continued to work normally," said O’Leary.
"This is damaging Ryanair’s business for the benefit of legacy airlines. We have today published our offer to pilots and cabin crew, and call on the European Commission – if it’s going to defend the growth of low fare air travel and consumer choice – to take action now to prevent these competitor airline employees from interfering with our business and damaging the best interests of our customers to the benefit of high fare legacy airlines".
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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