Ryanair cancellations
 

While the Ryanair cancellations are a right shambles, it's at least refreshing to see a company own up to having messed up. What's caused it? Could such a situation really just be down to holidays; surely more like general shortage of flight crew?

The reason is quite simple : Pilot Shortage. As one Ryanair pilot told me recently "we've been tethering on the brink for ages, it was only a matter of time". He told me Norwegian had a recruitment event recently and 70 RYR pilots turned up. For the company to blame holiday rosters, and even mention "IAA requirements" I think is very disingenuous.

It will be interesting to see if their client base diminishes as a result of all this. But knowing RYR they will win them back with some rock bottom fares on offer when all is running again.

Treat people like that, always comes home to roost eventually. Serves them right. Yet still attempt to blame all on other factors. Pathetic really.

they didn't own up straight away. Their first set of communications blamed a whole host of third parties. Only when questioned by said parties did the truth emerge. They were caught in a lie. That's the only reason they have come clean.

History repeating itself yet again. Airline managers do not own up to making mistakes, it is a sign of weakness and career suicide to do so.

Pilots are a very expensive commodity in an business and yet they have the power in their day-to-day commercial decisions to keep the company in profitable business... or wipe a fortnight's profit off a route with one ill-considered diversion. Airline managers OTOH scrape and save costs in their departments just to try and make the 0.5% productivity gain that will get them their bonus this year. Consequently those managers have a fundamental dislike & jealousy of those who unwittingly wield much more commercial clout than they do.

We have seen it so many times.... Another ambitious manager who thinks he can run the programme with less pilots per airframe. He has some bright ideas about biasing the leave away from the summer so the busiest time is covered and the pilots are forced to take their leave later & later in the year. It will reach a crisis sooner or later..... hopefully not before he gets his productivity bonus and moves on elsewhere screw some other department/company up.

How long before the RYR lawyers are all over this thread ?

I'm investigating Ryanair pilot turnover. If you could connect me with anyone, I'd be grateful. Thanks

As R261 compensation does not apply to flights cancelled two weeks or more in advance, they are dodging a huge bullet. They are saving at least €100 million by doing this now.

And not doing anything more to actually help those affected by their incompetence.

I've flown Ryanair quite a lot - basic and cheap flights, but did what they said on the tin. But not any more. First they seated me and my partner at opposite ends of an aircraft which wasn't full, and made us pay extra to change seats. Now this cancellation chaos...thankfully just after we got home from our Ryanair flight to Budapest. We definitely won't fly with them again, not even if they make the flights free! I listened to their so-called 'apology', and it made no sense. I think they may have shot themselves in the foot this time.

regulator time
 

flying passengers is considered a public service/utility and regulated as such. Just like the local pub has to run it's business responsibly perhaps the regulators should open conversations with Ryanair as to whether they are fit and proper to hold a licence..

If I'd been scheduled to travel, and cancelled with over 2 weeks notice so no EU compensation I would definitely be taking them to court since this was highly avoidable and I had a contract with the airline to travel

I read somewhere Ryanair has changed it's holiday year from March-April to October-September or somesuch, and it's this transition that's caused the upset.

Yep....

https://ialpa.net/ialpa-analysis-of-...umbers-crisis/

Same thread: http://www.pprune.org/terms-endearme...lights-13.html

Pity that earlier short threads on this subject were removed as they answered some of the questions posted above. And because, in general, this is an important subject for both pilots and LCC understanding.

In two posts i referred to the website of the BBC and stopped from making interpretations. So no need to worry about lawyer visitors you would think.

Ryanair has moved from general to staffing to pilot staffing explanations, all in the public domain. And said that 140 pilots moved to Norwegian. With Norwegian itself announcing more roadshows.
The cancellation document (thanks @exxb) is interesting too, as stated in the post above. No doubt someone will legally test this.

If you just follow pprune and like forums and talk and listen to pilots you might not be surprised about events. So very interesting to follow developments. Hope for at least some good links (thanks @gearlever).

Following a case like this improves the understanding of the business you are in.

What is RYR babbling about? According to Ryanair, most of their pilots are self-employed professionals who are externally hired to fly their airplanes.
Don't be surprised therefore, when a number of self-employed pro's choose not to fly your planes. Get your own employees and treat them likewise.

What level of employee loyalty is Ryanair expecting from their pilots? Surely not the same as with a legacy carrier.

FR apparently applying sticking plasters to problem. Offering bonuses and payments to give up leave etc, etc... and committing to staying until October 2018. Is that an admission next year is not looking good?

The Daily Mash (parody news!) made me laugh out loud.

Ryanair cancellations ?act of kindness in many ways?

This is being handled in Terms & Endearment forum, http://www.pprune.org/terms-endearme...g-flights.html and has 326 entries, so do follow if you wish.

There is also the main Ryanair thread in Airlines, Airports & Routes http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airpo...r-9-a-215.html

PPRuNe does not allow multiple threads to continue for too long but, for now, this thread has some PAX information.

As an FR regular (convenient route!) SLF, I find it morally incorrect that those who accept to fly for this bonus up to October 2017 will have to remain with the company until October 2018 to be paid it.

I knew Ryanair were tough employers, nothing wrong with that but I did not realise that pilots were self employed, just like Uber and Deliveroo workers.
That is a very vulnerable business model because Uber workers are unskilled and two a penny, whereas commercial pilots are highly skilled and highly regulated. Clearly serious mistakes have been made by management.

Is that why there is so little comment about Ryanair on PPRune? I had wondered. Plenty money for lawyers, not for crew. Hmm.