I have to agree with squawk-7600 on this one. This is by far the most factual incorrect official statement to come out of an airline in many years. Block hours is confused with duty hours as duty hours for most airlines is maxed at 55 hours a week.
I think someone from the PR-office will be looking for different employment soon.
No chance!
There is no confusion- they know *exactly* what they are doing. McNamara (and O'Leary) have used this statement many times before to try and show to the general public pilots are spoilt brats who are overpaid and underworked. They both know full well how many duty hours the average pilot works per week (usually well over 40).
This statement is designed to deliberately antagonise the pilot workforce. It is typical of the spiteful untruthful statements made on a regular basis by the management but don't just take my word for it:-
"The truth and Ryanair are uncomfortable bedfellows"
Mr Justice Peter Kelly speaking in the High Court in Dublin, June 4th 2010