Ryanair announced plans to cut its Dublin-based fleet by 20% this winter, following up on a threat to axe jobs after a series of one-day strikes by Irish pilots.
However, unions hit back by calling further strike action.
Ryanair said the jobs of more than 100 pilots and 200 cabin crew are at risk, blaming its decision to move at least six aircraft to Poland on “a downturn in forward bookings and airfares in Ireland partly as a result of recent rolling strikes”.
However, the European Cockpit Association (ECA), which represents pilots in 38 associations across Europe, hit back warning: “This will fuel frustration.
“Ryanair has taken a decision that has significant potential to harm more of their customers.”
Ryanair’s Irish pilots staged one-day strikes on July 12, 20 and 24 and Irish pilots’ union Forsa responded to the threat of job cuts by calling a fourth strike next week on August 3.
Forsa denounced the airline’s move as “reckless and unnecessary”. The ECA insisted: “This dispute is not about pay.”
ECA president Dirk Polloczek said: “This decision can only backfire. Ryanair pilots in Dublin and across Europe are determined to obtain direct employment contracts governed by the local law of the country they are based in.
“They strive for a fair and transparent Master Seniority Agreement, something that is a common standard across the industry. Why not at Ryanair?”
Philip von Schöppenthau, ECA secretary general added: “The airline’s current management is not open to genuine social dialogue or meaningful negotiations.
“It is reverting to its previous anti-union tactics while claiming publicly to engage with its unions.
“Nothing could be further from the reality, where negotiations in most countries are blocked or progressing at a snail’s pace.”
Ryanair cabin crew also staged one and two-day strikes in Spain, Portugal and Belgium this week.
Announcing the cuts in Dublin, Ryanair chief operating officer Peter Bellew said: “The board has decided to allocate more aircraft to markets where we are enjoying strong growth such as Poland.
“If our reputation for reliability or forward bookings is affected, cuts such as these at Dublin are a deeply regretted consequence.”
The announcement followed a warning from Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, issued alongside quarterly results at the start of the week.
O’Leary forecast “further strikes over the peak summer period, as we are not prepared to concede to unreasonable demands that will compromise our low fares or highly efficient model”.
He warned: “If these unnecessary strikes continue . . . we will have to review our winter schedule, which may lead to fleet reductions at disrupted bases and job losses in markets where competitor employees are interfering in our negotiations.
“We cannot allow our customers’ flights to be unnecessarily disrupted by a tiny minority of pilots.”
Ryanair reported a 20% fall in profits for the three months to June due to the increased costs of fuel, higher pilots’ wages and a 4% fall in average fares.
The carrier was still able to report profits of €319 million for the quarter and maintained its forecast of a full-year profit of up to €1.35 billion.
O’Leary reported Ryanair had to cancel more than 2,500 flights because of strikes and staff shortages at air traffic control.