The action has been taken in a bid to win collective representation in pay deals rather than through Ryanair’s own employee channels... Up to 117 pilots in the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) union – part of Ireland’s second-biggest trade union, Impact – are expected to take action, which Ryanair said is less than a third of the pilots it employs in Ireland. However, the union said that the 117 represent almost 90% of pilots directly employed by Ryanair...

Crew and pilots in Italy are also planning action on Friday, while pilots in Portugal have also voted to strike...

The airline said: “Ryanair will deal with any such disruptions if or when they arise, and we apologise sincerely to customers for any upset or worry this threatened action [...] may cause.”

Ryanair has told pilots who strike that they will be in breach of their agreements, conducted by the airline separately with each base, and lose benefits including guarantees over rosters and pay, and be denied promotion [...], adding: “Like any group of workers, Ryanair’s very well paid pilots are free to join unions, but like every other multinational, Ryanair is also free – under both Irish and EU law – to decline to engage with unions.”

Impact said Ryanair was the only Irish-based airline that refused to recognise unions and the dispute was “solely about winning independent representation for pilots in the company”.