The threat of a strike at Ryanair that would have disrupted flights during the Christmas holidays has passed. On Friday evening Ryanair pilots based in Belgium approved a preliminary agreement reached between management and unions by a large majority.
The framework agreement was reached at a reconciliation meeting in late November. That preliminary agreement has now been approved by Ryanair pilots based at Charleroi Airport.
The agreement runs until 2027 and includes a commitment regularly to increase pilots' basic wages. The intention is to reverse the pay cuts pilots made during the pandemic. Variable pay elements will also increase by about 10 per cent.
The agreement means an end to the social conflict at the low-cost airline. In recent months, Ryanair pilots organised four two-day strikes. Each time, the protests resulted in dozens of cancelled flights at Charleroi Airport.