Ryanair says it'll have to take a weeks leave off pilots to solve the rostering mess at the airline.
It's also recruited 125 new pilots to prevent further flights being cancelled.
The travelling plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers have been disrupted with 50 flights a day being cancelled over the next 6 weeks.
At its AGM this morning Ryanair outlined plans to prevent the rostering mess getting even worse.
Nicole Gernon reports:
It had offered 12 thousand euro to pilots to give up their annual leave but they rejected it - some pilots who have holidays booked will now have a week suspended which they'll get back in the new year.
CEO Michael O'Leary says they're entitled to do it as per the pilots' contracts and doesn't believe it will cause problems.
They've hired 125 pilots in the past two weeks who will be on the roster by the end of the month, as well as offering Dublin pilots an extra 10-thousand euro to compete with Norwegian.
Ryanair to look at taking a week's leave off pilots to improve rostering issue - will be given back in new year pic.twitter.com/X5NduWT2eS
— Nicole Gernon (@nicole_gernon) September 21, 2017
Pilots in Stansted, Frankfurt and Berlin will also be offered the same amount - as the company says traditionally they don't want to base themselves in these locations.
Ryanair has also rejected suggestions that staff are tempted to begin industrial action, saying with captains looking to switch bases and first officers looking for promotions, there's no risk of blue flu.
It's also dismissed emails it received suggesting the same, saying they were unsigned and equating them to a Twitter feed.
CEO Michael O'Leary thinks there's no risk of "blue flu" - says they've only received unsigned communications. @TodayFMNews @NewstalkFM
— Nicole Gernon (@nicole_gernon) September 21, 2017
It did confirm that 5 bases have contacted them asking if they could renegotiate their terms and contracts.
Shareholders this morning were concerned about reputational damage and what changes were being made but plenty voiced their ongoing support for the airline.
Ryanair is once again reassuring customers that they'll be told if their flight is affected
