Ryanair pilot group calls for Michael O’Leary to step down
A group representing Ryanair pilots has called on chief executive Michael O’Leary to step down and has warned of further flight cancellations.
The European Employee Representative Council (EERC), has said O’Leary has not resolved problems, pilots are leaving and more flight cancellations are ‘inevitable’.
The EERC is an unofficial body set up last year by Ryanair pilots but the airline does not recognise it. EERC represents mostly pilots based on the continent.
Reuters reports that, In a letter to O’Leary, the EERC said: "By our assessment, it looks like further cancellations are inevitable due to the continuing resignations of pilots."
The letter adds: "We suggest you leave now, and we call on the board and investors to engage a new CEO to return this airline to its rightful place."
Ryanair said the EERC and its letters have ‘no legal standing or validity’ and said 80% of pilots have so far accepted pay increases of 20%.
Last autumn, Ryanair was forced to cancel thousands of flights, blaming a mess up over pilot rotas.
Earlier this month, O’Leary warned he thought pilots may strike over the busy Easter period – a claim EERC denied.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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