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Ryanair pilots vote to accept pay increases

Ryanair pilots at all 15 of its UK bases have voted in a secret ballot to accept pay increases which the carrier claims are up to 20%.

The rises will be paid next week in the January payroll, according to the budget airline.

Pilots who have accepted the new deal include those based at Stansted who had previously rejected an improved pay offer.

The increases bring Ryanair’s pilot pay in the UK to 20% more than competitor Boeing 737 operators Norwegian and Jet2, according to the carrier.

The airline is continuing recognition discussions UK pilots’ union, the British Airline Pilots Association, “but had agreed with Balpa that these pay increases should not be delayed by these recognition negotiations, which are proceeding quickly”.

The airline added: “Ryanair and Balpa agreed to offer these pay increases to the six out of 15 UK bases, including Stansted, which had not previously accepted them.”

However, more than a third of Dublin-based pilots have yet to vote on the new terms.

“Ryanair is disappointed that no such vote was organised among the remaining 35% of Dublin pilots who will now not receive this pay increase in the January payroll,” the airline said.

“Ryanair will continue to communicate with the 35% of Dublin pilots who have yet to accept this substantial pay increase which, if accepted, can be included in the February payroll and will take them to 20% higher pay than Norwegian 737 pilots in Dublin.”

The majority of Ryanair’s pilots in Ireland have already agreed to pay increases voting in ballots at the Cork and Shannon bases.

A majority of pilots in Dublin who are contractors or new joiners have already agreed the terms.

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