Ryanair exodus, what is the plan?

[Norman Stanley Fletcher]

As is so often the case, the first casualty of war is truth. All discussions about Ryanair are so emotive, not least because some people have no idea of how to conduct themselves in a debate. I am particularly entertained by 'go around flaps 15' who has invited all those with 'real' knowledge of Ryanair to tell him his monthly pay, roster, inside leg measurement etc. Presumably his fellow contributors are not clairvoyant and therefore, in common with 99% of his colleagues who actually work at Ryanair, do not have ready access to that information either.

As a long-term easyJet pilot with more than a passing interest in Ryanair, I think that many people, both in and out of the much-derided Irish emporium, have missed the point in this discussion. The key issue for both easyJet and Ryanair piots is that, due to their sheer size, it is no longer possible for all the disaffected to leave and go elsewhere. Both companies employ around 2000 pilots (no doubt others will grace us with more precise figures) and it is just not possible for that many pilots to go elsewhere. Therefore it is vital that pilots within both companies decide to fight for their futures where they are, rather than dream their lives away into Emirates or Etihad. The only credible way to do that is with union backing. Ryanair pilots decided to go it alone without BALPA - many are mightily proud they did so. Therefore they must face the inevitable consequences of that choice, but at easyJet we are still on the field of battle despite our widely-publicised operational issues. As one happily committed to living out his professional career in the low-cost sector, I intend to fight tooth and nail to ensure that the success of companies such as my own is shared by all rather than just a few. The reality for many low-cost pilots is that this is where they too will live out their professional careers. They would be well-advised to join a union and fight for their futures where they are, rather than just fight for a way out the door.