They aren't being paid enough for what they are doing though and for what they have invested. A career is a marathon not a sprint. I know many more than 15 people who have thousands of hours, jet time, who can not get a job. They too earned good money. A bubble, in some way or another, will burst with Ryanair. Just look what happened to the UK economy - it was, great, greater, amazing and then it all collapsed very quickly. It's nature. Ryanairs structure is overly engineered and as a result will fail one day. They rely on recessions to buy aircraft cheaply and then sell them on for more than they bought them for, they rely on pilots and cabin crew to sell themselves cheaply and then move on when potential pay increases are due. They wont commit to anything, they hump and then dump. Sooner or later, they will either run out of 'friends' or pay double to be allowed back in e.g. Manchester Airport etc. One shouldn't bite the hand that feeds it. Sure, make hay while the sun barely shines but when the times become good, which they will be one day, we will see who is 'laughing' then.