Ryanair’s decision to cancel up to 50 flights a day for the next six weeks has thrown the airline into chaos.
Pilots are uniting across the continent over a dispute regarding their working conditions.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said the cancellations have been made to correct an error with pilot holiday leave.
But staff have rejected an initial bonus of €12,000 as they demand higher wages and better working conditions.
Mr O’Leary threatened pilots he would withdraw their holidays if they “misbehaved”.
The comments have outraged already disgruntled staff, who say they are fed up. One Ryanair pilot told MailOnline: “Bases are uniting and joining forces. Over 46 EU bases have joined forces and will be presenting letter to company and press release.
“There are reports of lots of pilots joining BALPA union. Ryanair will hate this.
“Michael O’Leary’s statements are disgusting, we regularly fly over 40-44 hours in a week, 50-60 duty hours, waking up at 4 am plus commuting long distances.
“He hasn’t got a clue and is stirring up the pilots for a clash.”
Another pilot said: “If Michael O’Leary thinks we do an easy job then I’d love to see him try and land an aircraft in gusty conditions late at night after having flown anything up to 15 hours.”
Pilots were initially told to take a four-week block of holidays to use up their leave balance over the next few months.
Despite being criticised for saying pilots had a “very easy job”, Mr O’Leary insists staff work under good conditions.
He said: “There isn’t a bad relationship between Ryanair and our pilots.”
But the CEO also admitted he “cannot guarantee there won’t be further cancellations” as the saga unfolds.
