Victory for Pilots

Ryanair pilots were regularly placed on unpaid standby at airports for up to four days

In a judgment that risks Ryanair was found to be breaching English employment law. It was also accused of exploiting crew.

Brookfield Aviation International, which supplies pilots for Ryanair’s fleet, was denying pilots basic rights, a case at the Mayor’s and City of London Court found.

Lawyers acting for the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association, which represented four pilots, argued successfully that Ryanair cockpit crew were unfairly penalised when they left short of their notice period. One pilot faced a €5,000 (£4,320) penalty for leaving inside of his three-month term.

The court also heard claims that pilots were regularly placed on unpaid standby at airports for up to four days in a 28-day period, lawyers said.

Rodney Hylton-Potts said the practice could be dangerous, as pilots would be loath to refuse short-notice requests to fly, regardless of fitness. The judge’s decision on penalties would make Ryanair renegotiate terms with many of its 3,000 pilots, half of whom are contracted