Threat to leave the country, “pipe”: the situation is tense between Ryanair and its pilots in Belgium

The social conflict in Ryanair spreads. Belgian pilots will be on strike at the same time as the French pilotsnamely, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th July, a crossover weekend at European airports…

A situation that ulcerated the direction of the low cost that returned to give the red flag of exit through a very little diplomatic letter.

Remember that this agreement, signed in the midst of the covid crisis, validated salary cuts so that the company keeps its head afloat. But although traffic is picking up strongly, Ryanair believes the situation remains precarious.

“So be it”

Ryanair argues that a large majority of its pilots in Europe have signed agreements, which include salary increases: “80% of the pilots in our network are now covered by new negotiated long-term agreements, including accelerated salary restoration.”

And if Belgian pilots refuse to toe the line “so be it, but they will be on strike for a long time, hurting business and undermining investment in Belgium, which represents 3% of our operations.” Ambient.

“tube”

For the time being, the impasse remains between an employer that threatens and some pilots that demand salary increases and better working conditions.

Still, Ryanair’s strategy is well known. The company had already raised the same threat in Marseille or in Portugal after numerous social tensions.

Also, some unions are not fooled. For the permanent secretary of the CNE Yves Lambot, quoted by the Belgian media Moustique, these threats are “pipelines” given that Ryanair, like most airlines, must manage a very strong and badly expected recovery in traffic and therefore needs all its bases and lines to meet demand.

Especially since from the Brussels-Charleroi airport, Ryanair offers no less than 121 destinations, making it a strategic nerve center for the company.