The union said: “Ryanair has blown the chance of finding a resolution before this week’s strike action.”
Its statement said: “Because Ryanair has wasted time with unnecessary court action, their chance to resolve
the dispute involving their pilots has been lost. Instead Ryanair is relying on legal technicalities to try to
persuade the High Court to block the strike.”
The High Court case is tomorrow, which means that passengers will not know until then if their Ryanair
flights will be cancelled.
Balpa’s general secretary, Brian Strutton, called the airline’s move “just another demonstration of the
bullying tactics the airline appears to favour”.
He said: “It’s also worrying to see Ryanair continue to sell tickets for strike days – are they prepared to offer
compensation to passengers if they are affected? I think they should tell passengers exactly where they
stand.”
Ryanair has not placed a warning about the possible strike on its website.
The airline said that of its 1,250-plus UK pilots, only 445 voted and only 28 per cent of the total were in
favour of industrial action, adding: “Over 44 per cent of Balpa’s members either voted no to industrial
action or didn’t vote at all.”
Ryanair said: “This is a time for Ryanair and our pilots to work together to get our customers to their
destinations without disruption.” It cites “an enforced series of base cuts and closures, some of these in the
UK, and a no-deal Brexit is less than 10 weeks away”.
Any passenger whose flight is cancelled is entitled to be flown on the same day if a seat is available – on a
rival carrier such as British Airways or easyJet if Ryanair has none available.