Ryanair pilots have not threatened industrial action, the airline’s chief executive has said.
Michael O’Leary insisted there is no problem between the airline and its pilots.
He said however that if pilots “misbehave there will be no goodies.”
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary and an unnamed shareholder during the company’s AGM at the their Dublin headquarters (Niall Carson/PA)
Mr O’Leary was speaking following a meeting with shareholders at the airline’s AGM in Dublin on Thursday amid the flight cancellation controversy.
During the meeting he said Ryanair is planning to take back one week of their pilots’ holidays to prevent any further flight cancellations.
Mr O’Leary said pilots due to take a four-week block of holidays in the next few months because a change in annual leave rotas will be told to reduce that to three weeks. He said they will get that week back in January.
A Ryanair aircraft (Peter Byrne/PA)
When asked about reports that pilots are threatening industrial action Mr O’Leary responded: “If you want and need to ask your staff to give up holidays no work to rule can alter that.”
He added:”I don’t even know how there would be industrial action in Ryanair. There isn’t a union.”
He also said there have been no demands for new contracts.
Mr O’Leary continued that the airline has “some goodies” to discuss with pilots but warned: “If pilots misbehave that will be the end of the goodies.”
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary speaks during the AGM at the airline’s Dublin headquarters (Niall Carson/PA)
He denied that was a threat to pilots against taking industrial action saying: “I don’t think that can be misconstrued as a threat.”
Mr O’Leary accused some pilots of being “precious about themselves” and “full of their own self importance”.
“(Piloting a commercial plane) is very highly skilled but I challenge any pilot to explain how it is a difficult job or how they are overworked,” he added.