GLAF - I stand by my assertion regarding 'Ryanair roaming round the world looking for pilots with some form of flying licence'. Your company have recruited widely in Eastern Europe and anywhere else they think they can pick up pilots with the necessary licences. I saw only recently a PPRUNE banner advertising a Ryanair recruitment day in Belgrade. A number of your pilots I have heard on the radio seem to have significant difficulty in speaking English to the level you would expect. In addition, as has been indicated by another contributor, the agencies through whom you recruit pilots offer assistance in converting licences from outside the JAR countries to acceptable licences to operate in Europe. In essence, if you can fly a 737 or similar type, and any way can be found to get you the right to work in Europe, then no stone is left unturned by the various agencies charged with recruiting on Ryanair's behalf. It is for others to decide if that is a desireable state of affairs - it is nonetheless true.
Incidentally, although I cannot quote you exact figures, I understand our manning crisis is temporarily over. We are in full recruitment at the moment but that is largely against future expansion. There is no doubt we faced a crewing crisis over the Summer and consequently we subbed out a number of flights (£8m is the figure I have heard quoted for the losses incurred in so doing). No doubt a significant factor in the improved situation is that BA and Virgin have temporarily stopped recruiting on the scale they did earlier this year, which has resulted in fewer resignations. We still have not quite got the balance of FOs/Capts correct, but that is improving all the time. Also, notwithstanding the fact that it would not take much disruption to create another crewing crisis, we are fundamentally ticking over reasonably well.