The US Justice Department charged four&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;officials with air piracy Thursday for last year's forced diversion of a Ryanair flight in order to arrest a dissident on board.

Two top officials of the state air navigation authority and two security officials were accused of conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy for allegedly taking part in a fake bomb scare scheme to force the aircraft to land in Minsk on May 23, 2021, so that the Belarusian government could seize opposition campaigner Roman Protasevich.

The charges, filed in federal court in New York, said Ryanair Flight 4978 from Athens to Vilnius had been carrying more than 100 passengers, including four US citizens, when&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;authorities concocted the scheme to force it to land.

Two of the four charged, Leonid Mikalaevich Churo and Oleg Kazyuchits, are director-general and deputy director-general, respectively, of the state aviation authority Belaeronavigatsia.

Two others from the state security services, their names not fully known to the FBI, were also charged.

“The FBI identified a detailed operation that subjected passengers from many countries, including the US, to the realities of terroristic threats," said FBI Assistant Director Michael Driscoll.

"Not only is what took place a reckless violation of US law, it’s extremely dangerous to the safety of everyone who flies in an airplane," he said.

"The next pilot who gets a distress call from a tower may doubt the authenticity of the emergency -- which puts lives at risk."

The diversion operation was led by state security services and succeeded in having Protasevich, 26, a journalist with the Nexta opposition media, and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, a law student at the European Humanities University in Lithuania, arrested at a Minsk airport.

Both were placed under house arrest to face various charges.

According to the US indictment, Churo and the security officials communicated the ostensible bomb threat to traffic officials at Minsk Air Control Center even before the Ryanair flight took off from Athens, demanding it divert to &nbsp;Minsk.

They waited until the plane entered&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;air space to alert the aircraft to the purported bomb threat,&nbsp;in order to force it to land in Minsk.

Churo's deputy Kazyuchits then sought to have the incident record falsified to hide the fabricated bomb threat and the involvement of security officials, according to the indictment.

The four, who remain at large in&nbsp;Belarus, all face possible life in prison if they are brought to justice in the United States.

The incident sparked international outrage and has brought punitive sanctions from Europe, Canada, Britain and the United States.

The International Civil Aviation Organization on Monday said it had completed its investigation but would only reveal the conclusions at the end of this month.

The US Justice Department charged four Belarus officials with air piracy Thursday for last year's forced diversion of a Ryanair flight in order to arrest a dissident on board.

The US Justice Department charged four Belarus officials with air piracy Thursday for last year's forced diversion of a Ryanair flight in order to arrest a dissident on board. Two top officials of the state air navigation authority and two security officials were accused of conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy for allegedly taking part in a fake bomb scare scheme to force the aircraft to land in Minsk on May 23, 2021, so that the Belarusian government could seize opposition campaigner Roman Protasevich. The charges, filed in federal court in New York, said Ryanair Flight 4978 from Athens to Vilnius had been carrying more than 100 passengers, including four US citizens, when Belarus authorities concocted the scheme to force it to land. Two of the four charged, Leonid Mikalaevich Churo and Oleg Kazyuchits, are director-general and deputy director-general, respectively, of the state aviation authority Belaeronavigatsia. Two others from the state security services, their names not fully known to the FBI, were also charged. “The FBI identified a detailed operation that subjected passengers from many countries, including the US, to the realities of terroristic threats," said FBI Assistant Director Michael Driscoll. "Not only is what took place a reckless violation of US law, it’s extremely dangerous to the safety of everyone who flies in an airplane," he said. "The next pilot who gets a distress call from a tower may doubt the authenticity of the emergency -- which puts lives at risk." The diversion operation was led by state security services and succeeded in having Protasevich, 26, a journalist with the Nexta opposition media, and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, a law student at the European Humanities University in Lithuania, arrested at a Minsk airport. Both were placed under house arrest to face various charges. According to the US indictment, Churo and the security officials communicated the ostensible bomb threat to traffic officials at Minsk Air Control Center even before the Ryanair flight took off from Athens, demanding it divert to Minsk. They waited until the plane entered Belarus air space to alert the aircraft to the purported bomb threat, in order to force it to land in Minsk. Churo's deputy Kazyuchits then sought to have the incident record falsified to hide the fabricated bomb threat and the involvement of security officials, according to the indictment. The four, who remain at large in Belarus, all face possible life in prison if they are brought to justice in the United States. The incident sparked international outrage and has brought punitive sanctions from Europe, Canada, Britain and the United States. The International Civil Aviation Organization on Monday said it had completed its investigation but would only reveal the conclusions at the end of this month.

US charges Belarus officials with air piracy over Ryanair flight diversion

Only passengers, who are vaccinated, should be allowed to board a plane, said Ryanair Holdings Plc’s Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary, as per a report by Telegraph. &nbsp;

The governments around the world should “make life difficult” for people, who are refusing to take the vaccines without any good reason, the European airline chief seems to have proposed in an interaction with the newspaper. &nbsp;

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“If you’re not vaccinated, you shouldn’t be allowed in the hospital, you shouldn’t be allowed to fly, you shouldn’t be allowed on the London Underground&nbsp;and you shouldn’t be allowed in the local supermarket or your pharmacy either,” O’Leary said. &nbsp;

According to the newspaper, O’Leary said that Ryanair is expecting to fly 10% few passengers in December due to the measures imposed to contain Omicron variant of coronavirus. &nbsp;

Several passengers will either cancel or hold off their trips due to the restrictions. &nbsp;

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The airline chief said that he also expects the first few months of the coming year to be weak due to the continued uncertainty over restrictions or if the new measures are imposed by different governments. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Commenting on the UK government,&nbsp;O’Leary&nbsp;said,&nbsp;“You get promoted around here for upsetting Johnson and his half-witted idiots.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Only passengers, who are vaccinated, should be allowed to board a plane, said Ryanair Holdings Plc’s Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary, as per a report by Telegraph.

Only passengers, who are vaccinated, should be allowed to board a plane, said Ryanair Holdings Plc’s Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary, as per a report by Telegraph. The governments around the world should “make life difficult” for people, who are refusing to take the vaccines without any good reason, the European airline chief seems to have proposed in an interaction with the newspaper. Also Read: Job of millennium? Pub landlord-cum-monarch vacancy is up for grabs in UK “If you’re not vaccinated, you shouldn’t be allowed in the hospital, you shouldn’t be allowed to fly, you shouldn’t be allowed on the London Underground and you shouldn’t be allowed in the local supermarket or your pharmacy either,” O’Leary said. According to the newspaper, O’Leary said that Ryanair is expecting to fly 10% few passengers in December due to the measures imposed to contain Omicron variant of coronavirus. Several passengers will either cancel or hold off their trips due to the restrictions. Also Read: For the first time, sales of electric vehicles beat diesel cars in Europe The airline chief said that he also expects the first few months of the coming year to be weak due to the continued uncertainty over restrictions or if the new measures are imposed by different governments. Commenting on the UK government, O’Leary said, “You get promoted around here for upsetting Johnson and his half-witted idiots.” (With inputs from agencies)

Ryanair CEO for allowing only vaccinated passengers to fly, says report

A Ryanair flight from Ireland to Poland diverted to Berlin after the crew were warned of a 'potential security threat' on the plane, the airline said on Monday.

German air traffic control warned the crew of the Dublin-Krakow flight of the potential threat on Sunday, Ryanair said in a statement, without elaborating. It said the captain followed procedures and diverted to Berlin, the nearest airport.

Passengers were taken off the plane 'to facilitate extensive security checks of passengers and all baggage',&nbsp;the airline said. Once they were cleared, passengers were flown to Krakow on a spare plane after a seven-hour delay.

German federal police said early on Monday morning that their deployment was finished, but declined to give details of what led to it, news agency dpa reported. A search of the plane found nothing untoward.&nbsp;

A Ryanair flight from Ireland to Poland diverted to Berlin after the crew were warned of a 'potential security threat' on the plane, the airline said on Monday. German air traffic control warned the crew of the Dublin-Krakow flight of the potential threat on Sunday, Ryanair said in a statement, without elaborating.

A Ryanair flight from Ireland to Poland diverted to Berlin after the crew were warned of a 'potential security threat' on the plane, the airline said on Monday. German air traffic control warned the crew of the Dublin-Krakow flight of the potential threat on Sunday, Ryanair said in a statement, without elaborating. It said the captain followed procedures and diverted to Berlin, the nearest airport. Passengers were taken off the plane 'to facilitate extensive security checks of passengers and all baggage', the airline said. Once they were cleared, passengers were flown to Krakow on a spare plane after a seven-hour delay. German federal police said early on Monday morning that their deployment was finished, but declined to give details of what led to it, news agency dpa reported. A search of the plane found nothing untoward.

Ryanair plane diverted to Berlin over 'potential threat'

Belarus has&nbsp;introduced "discriminatory" trade barriers against a range of goods from&nbsp;Ukraine amid&nbsp;global pressure after it forced a Ryanair plane carrying an opposition journalist to land in Minsk.

Ukraine had earlier banned flights to and from Belarus, following the forced landing of the flight from Greece to Lithuania at the weekend and the arrest of Roman Protasevich, a dissident Belarusian journalist on board.

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Deputy economy minister Taras Kachka said on Facebook new six-month licences would be required for the import of Ukrainian goods which would come into force in 10 days.

They would apply, among other things, to confectionery, beer, chipboard, wallpaper, toilet paper, packaging, bricks, ceramic tiles, agricultural machinery, washing machines and furniture.

"Such actions are unjustified and discriminatory. Individual licensing regime means manual control of the import of Ukrainian products to Belarus," he said.

Kachka said the government was talking to producers to try to reduce the negative effects of the licences.

Ukrainian energy analysts said Minsk also suspended fuel supplies to&nbsp;Ukraine. The energy ministry said it could not confirm this but added that the country had sufficient petrol reserves.

On Wednesday,&nbsp;Ukraine's state energy regulatory authority ruled to ban electricity imports from Belarus and its closest ally, Russia, as they are not members of the Energy Community (of South East Europe).

Since Soviet times,&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;has been connected to the energy systems of neighbouring states and at the beginning of this year imported energy due to a lack of domestic power generation.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has advised domestic and foreign airlines to avoid Belarusian air space.&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;also decided to ban Belarus-registered planes from using its airspace from May 29.

(With inputs from agencies)

Belarus has introduced "discriminatory" trade barriers against a range of goods from Ukraine amid global pressure after it forced a Ryanair plane carrying an opposition journalist to land in Minsk.

Belarus has introduced "discriminatory" trade barriers against a range of goods from Ukraine amid global pressure after it forced a Ryanair plane carrying an opposition journalist to land in Minsk. Ukraine had earlier banned flights to and from Belarus, following the forced landing of the flight from Greece to Lithuania at the weekend and the arrest of Roman Protasevich, a dissident Belarusian journalist on board. Deputy economy minister Taras Kachka said on Facebook new six-month licences would be required for the import of Ukrainian goods which would come into force in 10 days. They would apply, among other things, to confectionery, beer, chipboard, wallpaper, toilet paper, packaging, bricks, ceramic tiles, agricultural machinery, washing machines and furniture. "Such actions are unjustified and discriminatory. Individual licensing regime means manual control of the import of Ukrainian products to Belarus," he said. Kachka said the government was talking to producers to try to reduce the negative effects of the licences. Ukrainian energy analysts said Minsk also suspended fuel supplies to Ukraine. The energy ministry said it could not confirm this but added that the country had sufficient petrol reserves. On Wednesday, Ukraine's state energy regulatory authority ruled to ban electricity imports from Belarus and its closest ally, Russia, as they are not members of the Energy Community (of South East Europe). Since Soviet times, Ukraine has been connected to the energy systems of neighbouring states and at the beginning of this year imported energy due to a lack of domestic power generation. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has advised domestic and foreign airlines to avoid Belarusian air space. Ukraine also decided to ban Belarus-registered planes from using its airspace from May 29. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus imposes trade barriers on Ukraine amid plane row

Western powers prepared to pile sanctions on Belarus and cut off its aviation links on Monday, furious after it scrambled a warplane to intercept a Ryanair aircraft and arrest a dissident journalist, an act one official denounced as 'state piracy'.&nbsp;

In a video posted online, the detained blogger&nbsp;Roman Protasevich, 26, said he was in good health, being held in a pretrial detention facility in Minsk, and acknowledged having played a role in organising mass disturbances in the capital last year.&nbsp;

In the video on the Telegram messaging app, he wore a dark sweatshirt and clasped his hands tightly in front of him. The comments were immediately dismissed by his allies, including his father, as having been made under duress.&nbsp;

A Polish deputy foreign minister, Pawel Jablonski, told private broadcaster TVN24 that his government had heard from Protasevich's mother about his being in poor health, but provided no details.&nbsp;

Belarus' interior ministry said Protasevich was being held in jail and had not complained of ill health.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden on Monday condemned Belarus for its actions and said he had asked his advisers to give him options to hold those responsible to account.&nbsp;

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, in a call on Monday with exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said the United States had "strong support for the demands of the Belarusian people for democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms," the White House said.&nbsp;

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels called for Belarusian airlines to be banned from the 27-nation bloc's airspace and urged EU-based carriers to avoid flying over the former Soviet republic, according to a joint statement.&nbsp;

They also agreed to widen the list of Belarusian individuals they already sanction and called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to urgently investigate Belarus forcing a Ryanair plane to land in Minsk on a Greece-Lithuania flight on Sunday.&nbsp;

"The reaction should be swift and be severe," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo told journalists ahead of the EU summit.&nbsp;

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, using language that was echoed by a number of other EU countries, said: "This was effectively aviation piracy, state sponsored."&nbsp;

The EU and other Western countries also called for the release of Protasevich, who was detained when the plane landed.&nbsp;

His social media feed from exile has been one of the last remaining independent outlets for news about Belarus since a mass crackdown on dissent last year. Sofia Sapega, a 23-year-old student travelling with him, was also detained.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Western powers prepared to pile sanctions on Belarus and cut off its aviation links on Monday, furious after it scrambled a warplane to intercept a Ryanair aircraft and arrest a dissident journalist, an act one official denounced as 'state piracy'.

Western powers prepared to pile sanctions on Belarus and cut off its aviation links on Monday, furious after it scrambled a warplane to intercept a Ryanair aircraft and arrest a dissident journalist, an act one official denounced as 'state piracy'. In a video posted online, the detained blogger Roman Protasevich, 26, said he was in good health, being held in a pretrial detention facility in Minsk, and acknowledged having played a role in organising mass disturbances in the capital last year. In the video on the Telegram messaging app, he wore a dark sweatshirt and clasped his hands tightly in front of him. The comments were immediately dismissed by his allies, including his father, as having been made under duress. A Polish deputy foreign minister, Pawel Jablonski, told private broadcaster TVN24 that his government had heard from Protasevich's mother about his being in poor health, but provided no details. Belarus' interior ministry said Protasevich was being held in jail and had not complained of ill health. US President Joe Biden on Monday condemned Belarus for its actions and said he had asked his advisers to give him options to hold those responsible to account. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, in a call on Monday with exiled Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said the United States had "strong support for the demands of the Belarusian people for democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms," the White House said. European Union leaders meeting in Brussels called for Belarusian airlines to be banned from the 27-nation bloc's airspace and urged EU-based carriers to avoid flying over the former Soviet republic, according to a joint statement. They also agreed to widen the list of Belarusian individuals they already sanction and called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to urgently investigate Belarus forcing a Ryanair plane to land in Minsk on a Greece-Lithuania flight on Sunday. "The reaction should be swift and be severe," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo told journalists ahead of the EU summit. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, using language that was echoed by a number of other EU countries, said: "This was effectively aviation piracy, state sponsored." The EU and other Western countries also called for the release of Protasevich, who was detained when the plane landed. His social media feed from exile has been one of the last remaining independent outlets for news about Belarus since a mass crackdown on dissent last year. Sofia Sapega, a 23-year-old student travelling with him, was also detained. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus faces new sanctions from West over forced landing of plane, arrest of journalist 

The United Kingdom's government in a bid to overturn new quarantine rules that will be put into effect from today. International airline group Ryanair and EasyJet spoke against the government's rule that calls for mandatory self-isolation period for international passengers.

COVID-19 pandemic: Airlines protest UK quarantine plan

Britain will introduce a COVID-19 quarantine for travellers arriving from abroad from June 8, interior minister Priti Patel said on Friday, a measure that airlines have warned will devastate their industry.

All international arrivals, including returning Britons, will have to self-isolate for 14 days and provide details of where they will be staying under the plans, which were criticised by airlines, business groups and politicians alike.

"Now we are past the peak of this virus, we must take steps to guard against imported cases triggering a resurgence of this deadly disease," Patel said at a news conference.

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Those who breach the quarantine in England could be fined 1,000 pounds, and spot checks would be carried out by health and border officials.

The quarantine will not apply to those arriving from the Irish Republic, or to freight drivers, medical professionals and seasonal agricultural workers. The measures will be reviewed every three weeks.&nbsp;

Transport minister Grant Shapps has suggested the government would seek to negotiate "air bridges" for travellers coming from countries with low virus infection rates.

In&nbsp;France, Britain's closest neighbour on the continent of Europe, the government said it regretted Britain's decision. It stood ready to impose reciprocal measures, AFP news agency cited the French interior ministry as saying.

Unlike many other countries, Britain has carried out few tests and checks on visitors, with quarantine limited only to arrivals from China at the start of the outbreak.

Spain and Italy have introduced rules that mean international arrivals must self-isolate for two weeks, while on Friday Ireland gave further details for its own quarantine proposals.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the blanket quarantine was deeply concerning and could be avoided with strong safety measures.

"This approach will damage international business and investor confidence at a time when it is vital to demonstrate that the UK can open for business safely," BCC Director General Adam Marshall said.

The opposition Labour Party supported the measures but said the government's handling of UK arrivals had "lacked urgency, coherence and clarity from the outset". Some members of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative party have also criticised the plan.

Chief among industry critics are airline bosses, who have said the measures would have severe repercussions. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive, said they would be "unenforceable and unpoliceable."

Ryanair and easyJet&nbsp;have outlined plans to restart some flights in coming months. But under the quarantine plan, Virgin Atlantic will not restart until August at the earliest.

"Introducing a quarantine at this stage makes no sense and will mean very limited international aviation at best," said Tim Alderslade, chief executive of industry body Airlines UK. "It is just about the worst thing government could do if their aim is to restart the economy."

Britain will introduce a COVID-19 quarantine for travellers arriving from abroad from June 8, interior minister Priti Patel said on Friday, a measure that airlines have warned will devastate their industry.

Britain will introduce a COVID-19 quarantine for travellers arriving from abroad from June 8, interior minister Priti Patel said on Friday, a measure that airlines have warned will devastate their industry. All international arrivals, including returning Britons, will have to self-isolate for 14 days and provide details of where they will be staying under the plans, which were criticised by airlines, business groups and politicians alike. "Now we are past the peak of this virus, we must take steps to guard against imported cases triggering a resurgence of this deadly disease," Patel said at a news conference. Also read: Human trials of British coronavirus vaccine, backed by US, to reach 10,000 Those who breach the quarantine in England could be fined 1,000 pounds, and spot checks would be carried out by health and border officials. The quarantine will not apply to those arriving from the Irish Republic, or to freight drivers, medical professionals and seasonal agricultural workers. The measures will be reviewed every three weeks. Transport minister Grant Shapps has suggested the government would seek to negotiate "air bridges" for travellers coming from countries with low virus infection rates. In France, Britain's closest neighbour on the continent of Europe, the government said it regretted Britain's decision. It stood ready to impose reciprocal measures, AFP news agency cited the French interior ministry as saying. Unlike many other countries, Britain has carried out few tests and checks on visitors, with quarantine limited only to arrivals from China at the start of the outbreak. Spain and Italy have introduced rules that mean international arrivals must self-isolate for two weeks, while on Friday Ireland gave further details for its own quarantine proposals. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the blanket quarantine was deeply concerning and could be avoided with strong safety measures. "This approach will damage international business and investor confidence at a time when it is vital to demonstrate that the UK can open for business safely," BCC Director General Adam Marshall said. The opposition Labour Party supported the measures but said the government's handling of UK arrivals had "lacked urgency, coherence and clarity from the outset". Some members of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative party have also criticised the plan. Chief among industry critics are airline bosses, who have said the measures would have severe repercussions. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive, said they would be "unenforceable and unpoliceable." Ryanair and easyJet have outlined plans to restart some flights in coming months. But under the quarantine plan, Virgin Atlantic will not restart until August at the earliest. "Introducing a quarantine at this stage makes no sense and will mean very limited international aviation at best," said Tim Alderslade, chief executive of industry body Airlines UK. "It is just about the worst thing government could do if their aim is to restart the economy."

UK to introduce quarantine for international arrivals from June 8

Lufthansa on Thursday said it was slashing 700 to 800 jobs at its Austrian Airlines subsidiary, more than a tenth of the workforce there, to cut costs in the face of "brutal competition" from rival carriers.

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said the cull would help Austrian Airlines, which could end the year in the red, achieve "savings of 90 million euros&nbsp;per year" from the end of 2021.

The small carrier was locked "in the mother of all battles" in Vienna with low-cost rivals Ryanair and Wizz Air, Spohr told reporters in a conference call after announcing a rise in the group's third-quarter revenues.

News of the jobs cull sent shares in Lufthansa soaring by 8.8 percent to 17.6 euros by 1140 GMT, putting it at the top of the blue-chip DAX index in Frankfurt.

"We have to reposition ourselves to be able to survive in the brutal competition with budget carriers," Austrian Airlines boss Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a separate statement.

The planned job cuts amount to a loss of 700 to 800 full-time jobs by the end of 2021, out of a total workforce of 7,000 people, the statement added.&nbsp;

Most of the <a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/lufthansa-cabin-crew-union-stages-all-day-strike-at-smaller-airlines-257094">job losses</a> will come from not replacing departing workers.

The Lufthansa group -- which also includes Eurowings, Brussels and Swiss airlines -- earlier on Thursday said it was on track to meet its full-year outlook despite a "challenging market environment".

The carrier booked a net profit of 1.15 billion euros&nbsp; between July and September, up four percent year-on-year.

But the jump was mainly thanks to accounting effects, with the group's operating profit adjusted for some one-off items, actually falling eight percent to 1.3 billion euros.

Lufthansa said it had faced higher than expected fuel costs that were only partially offset by cost-cutting efforts.

And like rival airlines it was grappling with "a general slowdown in the global economy", it said in a statement.

Revenues for the period were up two percent to 10.2 billion euros.

Lufthansa's chief financial officer Ulrik Svensson said it was "vital" that the group took action "to further reduce our costs".

Aside from the job losses at Austrian Airlines, the group is hoping that a renewed focus on the Vienna hub and aircraft replacements will further trim costs at the struggling subsidiary.

Looking ahead, Lufthansa said it was on track to meet its 2019 goals.

It continues to expect adjusted earnings before tax and interest of 2.0-2.4 billon euros while revenues are predicted "to rise by a single-digit percentage amount".

But it lowered its earnings outlook for Lufthansa Cargo, blaming "current weak market demand".

The group's total fuel costs for the year are expected to reach 6.8 billion euros, 650 million euros more than in 2018.

Thursday's announcements came as Lufthansa faced a major strike by German cabin crew on Thursday, the first of a two-day walkout that has led to 1,300 flight cancellations.

Lufthansa on Thursday said it was slashing 700 to 800 jobs at its Austrian Airlines subsidiary, more than a tenth of the workforce there, to cut costs in the face of "brutal competition" from rival carriers.

Lufthansa on Thursday said it was slashing 700 to 800 jobs at its Austrian Airlines subsidiary, more than a tenth of the workforce there, to cut costs in the face of "brutal competition" from rival carriers. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said the cull would help Austrian Airlines, which could end the year in the red, achieve "savings of 90 million euros per year" from the end of 2021. The small carrier was locked "in the mother of all battles" in Vienna with low-cost rivals Ryanair and Wizz Air, Spohr told reporters in a conference call after announcing a rise in the group's third-quarter revenues. News of the jobs cull sent shares in Lufthansa soaring by 8.8 percent to 17.6 euros by 1140 GMT, putting it at the top of the blue-chip DAX index in Frankfurt. "We have to reposition ourselves to be able to survive in the brutal competition with budget carriers," Austrian Airlines boss Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a separate statement. The planned job cuts amount to a loss of 700 to 800 full-time jobs by the end of 2021, out of a total workforce of 7,000 people, the statement added. Most of the job losses will come from not replacing departing workers. The Lufthansa group -- which also includes Eurowings, Brussels and Swiss airlines -- earlier on Thursday said it was on track to meet its full-year outlook despite a "challenging market environment". The carrier booked a net profit of 1.15 billion euros between July and September, up four percent year-on-year. But the jump was mainly thanks to accounting effects, with the group's operating profit adjusted for some one-off items, actually falling eight percent to 1.3 billion euros. Lufthansa said it had faced higher than expected fuel costs that were only partially offset by cost-cutting efforts. And like rival airlines it was grappling with "a general slowdown in the global economy", it said in a statement. Revenues for the period were up two percent to 10.2 billion euros. Lufthansa's chief financial officer Ulrik Svensson said it was "vital" that the group took action "to further reduce our costs". Aside from the job losses at Austrian Airlines, the group is hoping that a renewed focus on the Vienna hub and aircraft replacements will further trim costs at the struggling subsidiary. Looking ahead, Lufthansa said it was on track to meet its 2019 goals. It continues to expect adjusted earnings before tax and interest of 2.0-2.4 billon euros while revenues are predicted "to rise by a single-digit percentage amount". But it lowered its earnings outlook for Lufthansa Cargo, blaming "current weak market demand". The group's total fuel costs for the year are expected to reach 6.8 billion euros, 650 million euros more than in 2018. Thursday's announcements came as Lufthansa faced a major strike by German cabin crew on Thursday, the first of a two-day walkout that has led to 1,300 flight cancellations.

Austrian Airlines to slash jobs over 'brutal competition'

Ryanair Holdings Plc on Monday warned fares would fall by 6 per cent&nbsp;in its key summer season this year, in part due to overcapacity in Germany and Brexit fears in the United Kingdom, but kept its profit target for the year.

Shares of Europe's largest low-cost carrier have almost halved in value in two years as the company grappled with overcapacity in Europe, Britain's plans to leave the European Union and, most recently, delays in delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX.

Ryanair earlier this month halved its growth targets for next year due to delays in deliveries of the 737 MAX. On Monday, it said it expected the first deliveries in January at the earliest.

The airline reported a profit after tax of 243 million euros for the three months to June 30, down from 309 million a year earlier. A poll of analysts published by Ryanair ahead of the results had forecast a profit of 232 million euros.

It retained its profit forecast for the year to March 31, 2020 of between 750 million euros and 950 million euros, compared to a forecast of 832 million euros in the analyst poll.

Ryanair said its fares in the three months to the end of June declined 6% from a year earlier and said it expected a similar fall for the remainder of the summer. Average fares for the year to end-March 2020 will be towards the lower end of its guidance range of -2% to +1%, it added.

Ryanair's shares closed on Friday at 10.02 euros, almost half their peak of 19.39 euros hit two years ago.

Ryanair is one of Boeing's biggest customers and was due to have 58 737 MAX jets in time for its 2020 summer season. But it now expects to receive just 30 by then in that period.

Ryanair's chief financial officer, Niall Sorohan, said the timing of plans by its pilots in the United Kingdom and Ireland to ballot for possible industrial action in August was "unusual", given concerns around the MAX and Brexit, but said the airline was open to talks.

Ryanair Holdings Plc on Monday warned fares would fall by 6 per cent in its key summer season this year, in part due to overcapacity in Germany and Brexit fears in the United Kingdom, but kept its profit target for the year.

Ryanair Holdings Plc on Monday warned fares would fall by 6 per cent in its key summer season this year, in part due to overcapacity in Germany and Brexit fears in the United Kingdom, but kept its profit target for the year. Shares of Europe's largest low-cost carrier have almost halved in value in two years as the company grappled with overcapacity in Europe, Britain's plans to leave the European Union and, most recently, delays in delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX. Ryanair earlier this month halved its growth targets for next year due to delays in deliveries of the 737 MAX. On Monday, it said it expected the first deliveries in January at the earliest. The airline reported a profit after tax of 243 million euros for the three months to June 30, down from 309 million a year earlier. A poll of analysts published by Ryanair ahead of the results had forecast a profit of 232 million euros. It retained its profit forecast for the year to March 31, 2020 of between 750 million euros and 950 million euros, compared to a forecast of 832 million euros in the analyst poll. Ryanair said its fares in the three months to the end of June declined 6% from a year earlier and said it expected a similar fall for the remainder of the summer. Average fares for the year to end-March 2020 will be towards the lower end of its guidance range of -2% to +1%, it added. Ryanair's shares closed on Friday at 10.02 euros, almost half their peak of 19.39 euros hit two years ago. Ryanair is one of Boeing's biggest customers and was due to have 58 737 MAX jets in time for its 2020 summer season. But it now expects to receive just 30 by then in that period. Ryanair's chief financial officer, Niall Sorohan, said the timing of plans by its pilots in the United Kingdom and Ireland to ballot for possible industrial action in August was "unusual", given concerns around the MAX and Brexit, but said the airline was open to talks.

Ryanair expects average fares to fall 6% in key summer season

Ryanair on Monday unveiled plans for an overhaul to create four subsidiaries, as the Irish no-frills airline revealed also a third-quarter loss of 20 million euros and said a no-deal Brexit "remains worryingly high".

Mirroring a set-up by British Airways and Iberia owner IAG, a statement said Ryanair planned to have four distinct operations, each with its own chief executive.

The airline's current chief executive, Michael O'Leary, will head up the overall group, Ryanair said. Under him will be Ryanair DAC overseeing the Irish operations and there will be also Ryanair UK, Laudamotion for its Austrian business and Ryanair Sun, or Polish unit.

"Having agreed to this group strategy as the best way to grow Ryanair, Sun, Lauda and other possible airline brands, Michael O'Leary has agreed a new five-year contract as group CEO," the statement said.

It added: "Over the next 12 months Ryanair Holdings Plc will move to a group structure not dissimilar to that of IAG.&nbsp;

"A small senior management team will oversee the development of four airline subsidiaries... (focusing) upon efficient capital allocation, cost reductions, aircraft acquisitions, and small scale M&amp;A opportunities," the statement said

On the latest group earnings performance, O'Leary said that while the 20 million euros ($23 million) net loss was "disappointing", the group takes "comfort that this was entirely due to weaker than expected airfares".

Last month, Ryanair cut its annual profit forecast for a second time, blaming lower airfares caused by overcapacity in the European short-haul sector.

Following Monday's update, Ryanair's share price slumped 4.4 per cent to 10.94 euros.

“For all the controversy and success, investors are entitled to at least question if O'Leary is the right man to take the company forward given the patchy recent track record and a stalling share price," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

"A new management structure... will probably put some distance between him and the unions."

Ryanair's recent performance has been hit also by pan-European strikes last year that forced it to cancel flights, affecting thousands of passengers, and offer improved pay deals to staff via landmark deals with unions.

On Monday meanwhile, the Dublin-based airline again spoke out on Brexit.

"The risk of a 'no-deal' Brexit remains worryingly high. While we hope that common sense will prevail and lead to either a delay in Brexit or agreement on the 21-month transition deal currently on the table, we have taken all necessary steps to protect Ryanair’s business in a no-deal environment," the statement said.&nbsp;

Britain accounts for about one-quarter of revenues at Ryanair, causing the airline to warn frequently about potential fallout from the UK's rocky path to exiting the European Union.

And while the airline sector as a whole took a knock last year from high oil prices, a sharp reduction in fuel costs in recent months has removed such pressures.

But the European short-haul sector remains weighed down by fierce competition despite some consolidation, including Ryanair's purchase of Austrian carrier Laudamotion in 2018.&nbsp;

Ryanair on Monday unveiled plans for an overhaul to create four subsidiaries, as the Irish no-frills airline revealed also a third-quarter loss of 20 million euros and said a no-deal Brexit "remains worryingly high".

Ryanair on Monday unveiled plans for an overhaul to create four subsidiaries, as the Irish no-frills airline revealed also a third-quarter loss of 20 million euros and said a no-deal Brexit "remains worryingly high". Mirroring a set-up by British Airways and Iberia owner IAG, a statement said Ryanair planned to have four distinct operations, each with its own chief executive. The airline's current chief executive, Michael O'Leary, will head up the overall group, Ryanair said. Under him will be Ryanair DAC overseeing the Irish operations and there will be also Ryanair UK, Laudamotion for its Austrian business and Ryanair Sun, or Polish unit. "Having agreed to this group strategy as the best way to grow Ryanair, Sun, Lauda and other possible airline brands, Michael O'Leary has agreed a new five-year contract as group CEO," the statement said. It added: "Over the next 12 months Ryanair Holdings Plc will move to a group structure not dissimilar to that of IAG. "A small senior management team will oversee the development of four airline subsidiaries... (focusing) upon efficient capital allocation, cost reductions, aircraft acquisitions, and small scale M&A opportunities," the statement said On the latest group earnings performance, O'Leary said that while the 20 million euros ($23 million) net loss was "disappointing", the group takes "comfort that this was entirely due to weaker than expected airfares". Last month, Ryanair cut its annual profit forecast for a second time, blaming lower airfares caused by overcapacity in the European short-haul sector. Following Monday's update, Ryanair's share price slumped 4.4 per cent to 10.94 euros. “For all the controversy and success, investors are entitled to at least question if O'Leary is the right man to take the company forward given the patchy recent track record and a stalling share price," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell. "A new management structure... will probably put some distance between him and the unions." Ryanair's recent performance has been hit also by pan-European strikes last year that forced it to cancel flights, affecting thousands of passengers, and offer improved pay deals to staff via landmark deals with unions. On Monday meanwhile, the Dublin-based airline again spoke out on Brexit. "The risk of a 'no-deal' Brexit remains worryingly high. While we hope that common sense will prevail and lead to either a delay in Brexit or agreement on the 21-month transition deal currently on the table, we have taken all necessary steps to protect Ryanair’s business in a no-deal environment," the statement said. Britain accounts for about one-quarter of revenues at Ryanair, causing the airline to warn frequently about potential fallout from the UK's rocky path to exiting the European Union. And while the airline sector as a whole took a knock last year from high oil prices, a sharp reduction in fuel costs in recent months has removed such pressures. But the European short-haul sector remains weighed down by fierce competition despite some consolidation, including Ryanair's purchase of Austrian carrier Laudamotion in 2018.

Ryanair to restructure, posts quarterly loss

British police are investigating after footage of a man shouting racist abuse at an elderly black woman on a Ryanair flight went viral over the weekend, with the airline facing criticism over how it dealt with the incident.

The unidentified man insulted her after complaining that she had inconvenienced him as he tried to reach his seat aboard.

"Don't talk to me in a fucking foreign language you stupid ugly cow," the man tells the woman before a man in the row behind asks him to stop.

"I will carry on as long as I can with this ugly black bastard," he retorts.

Ryanair said that they were aware of the matter and had reported it to the police. The airline's chief financial officer declined to comment on the story.

"Essex Police takes prejudice-based crime seriously and we want all incidents to be reported. We are working closely with Ryanair and the Spanish authorities on the investigation," the police said in a statement.

The video was taken by another passenger while the plane was waiting to take off from Barcelona to London Stansted airport on Friday.

After the argument, the woman was eventually moved from her seat. A flight attendant appears to tell the man he will discuss the incident with his supervisor, but the passenger is left in his place.

"I've seen airlines ground to a halt, and police called, and passengers escorted off of planes for less," David Lawrence, who recorded the video, told BBC Radio.

The police investigation comes as the Irish low-cost carrier, Europe's largest, announced on Monday a 7 per cent fall in profits in the first six months of the year. Ryanair has been grappling with the impact of recent strikes, high fuel costs and intense competition.

Britain's interior minister resigned earlier this year over the treatment of some Caribbean "Windrush" migrants who were invited to Britain after World War Two but were left without documents and denied basic rights, a scandal that highlighted persistent racial inequalities in British society.

Lawrence added that the woman, who he is in touch with, was from the Windrush generation, and that the frequency of such racist abuse made people numb to it.

"If the roles had been reversed, if that was a black man abusing an elderly, disabled white woman, I know that the outcome would have been completely different," he said.

British police are investigating after footage of a man shouting racist abuse at an elderly black woman on a Ryanair flight went viral over the weekend, with the airline facing criticism over how it dealt with the incident.

British police are investigating after footage of a man shouting racist abuse at an elderly black woman on a Ryanair flight went viral over the weekend, with the airline facing criticism over how it dealt with the incident. The unidentified man insulted her after complaining that she had inconvenienced him as he tried to reach his seat aboard. "Don't talk to me in a fucking foreign language you stupid ugly cow," the man tells the woman before a man in the row behind asks him to stop. "I will carry on as long as I can with this ugly black bastard," he retorts. Ryanair said that they were aware of the matter and had reported it to the police. The airline's chief financial officer declined to comment on the story. "Essex Police takes prejudice-based crime seriously and we want all incidents to be reported. We are working closely with Ryanair and the Spanish authorities on the investigation," the police said in a statement. The video was taken by another passenger while the plane was waiting to take off from Barcelona to London Stansted airport on Friday. After the argument, the woman was eventually moved from her seat. A flight attendant appears to tell the man he will discuss the incident with his supervisor, but the passenger is left in his place. "I've seen airlines ground to a halt, and police called, and passengers escorted off of planes for less," David Lawrence, who recorded the video, told BBC Radio. The police investigation comes as the Irish low-cost carrier, Europe's largest, announced on Monday a 7 per cent fall in profits in the first six months of the year. Ryanair has been grappling with the impact of recent strikes, high fuel costs and intense competition. Britain's interior minister resigned earlier this year over the treatment of some Caribbean "Windrush" migrants who were invited to Britain after World War Two but were left without documents and denied basic rights, a scandal that highlighted persistent racial inequalities in British society. Lawrence added that the woman, who he is in touch with, was from the Windrush generation, and that the frequency of such racist abuse made people numb to it. "If the roles had been reversed, if that was a black man abusing an elderly, disabled white woman, I know that the outcome would have been completely different," he said.

Video: Ryanair passenger's racist rant prompts British police investigation

Ryanair on Friday said it has reached agreements with more unions across Europe, as the no-frills Irish airline looks to avoid further strike action threatened by pilots and cabin crew.

But UK pilots union BALPA hit back, saying Ryanair had got ahead of itself, while on Thursday Belgian unions representing cabin crew threatened "several strike days before the end of the year" by Europe-wide employees.

Ryanair's head of human resources Eddie Wilson said in a company statement Friday:&nbsp;

"These signed agreements with our pilot unions in Portugal, the UK, Italy and shortly in Spain, demonstrate the considerable progress we're making in concluding union agreements with our people in our major EU markets."&nbsp;

However BALPA General Secretary Brian Strutton said the union "has not reached agreement with Ryanair on seniority and base transfers" as Ryanair had claimed.

"We have a joint proposal that will go to consultation with members, until the members vote there is no agreement," he said in a BALPA statement.&nbsp;

"This is standard trade union procedure. What's happened I think is that Ryanair has got itself a little bit over-excited at the thought of a potential agreement.&nbsp;

"They should calm down until we've put the proposal to the members to vote which we will do over the next few weeks," Strutton added.

The latest "agreements" announced by Ryanair are meanwhile only a stepping stone toward the key demand of the airline's staff based outside Ireland that the Dublin-based carrier stops employing them under Irish legislation.

Employees argue that the status quo creates huge insecurity for them, blocking access to state benefits in their own countries.

Ryanair pilots across Europe staged a 24-hour stoppage in September to push their demands for better pay and conditions, plunging tens of thousands of passengers into transport chaos at the peak of the busy summer season.

In July meanwhile, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers.

Earlier this month, Ryanair slashed its profits forecast and signalled job losses in the Netherlands and Germany as it reported on the fallout of the pan-European strikes.

An update on its earnings outlook and past performance is due Monday when Ryanair publishes half-year results.

Ryanair on Friday said it has reached agreements with more unions across Europe, as the no-frills Irish airline looks to avoid further strike action threatened by pilots and cabin crew.

Ryanair on Friday said it has reached agreements with more unions across Europe, as the no-frills Irish airline looks to avoid further strike action threatened by pilots and cabin crew. But UK pilots union BALPA hit back, saying Ryanair had got ahead of itself, while on Thursday Belgian unions representing cabin crew threatened "several strike days before the end of the year" by Europe-wide employees. Ryanair's head of human resources Eddie Wilson said in a company statement Friday: "These signed agreements with our pilot unions in Portugal, the UK, Italy and shortly in Spain, demonstrate the considerable progress we're making in concluding union agreements with our people in our major EU markets." However BALPA General Secretary Brian Strutton said the union "has not reached agreement with Ryanair on seniority and base transfers" as Ryanair had claimed. "We have a joint proposal that will go to consultation with members, until the members vote there is no agreement," he said in a BALPA statement. "This is standard trade union procedure. What's happened I think is that Ryanair has got itself a little bit over-excited at the thought of a potential agreement. "They should calm down until we've put the proposal to the members to vote which we will do over the next few weeks," Strutton added. The latest "agreements" announced by Ryanair are meanwhile only a stepping stone toward the key demand of the airline's staff based outside Ireland that the Dublin-based carrier stops employing them under Irish legislation. Employees argue that the status quo creates huge insecurity for them, blocking access to state benefits in their own countries. Ryanair pilots across Europe staged a 24-hour stoppage in September to push their demands for better pay and conditions, plunging tens of thousands of passengers into transport chaos at the peak of the busy summer season. In July meanwhile, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers. Earlier this month, Ryanair slashed its profits forecast and signalled job losses in the Netherlands and Germany as it reported on the fallout of the pan-European strikes. An update on its earnings outlook and past performance is due Monday when Ryanair publishes half-year results.

Ryanair announces more deals with unions in Europe

Ryanair cancelled scores of European flights on Friday as unions staged what they warned could be the biggest strike in the airline's history.

The Dublin-based carrier has played down fears of widespread disruption but confirmed it would cancel about 250 flights.

"Today, over 2,150 Ryanair flights (90 per cent of our schedule) will operate as normal carrying 400,000 customers across Europe," the airline said in statement.

Walk-outs by cabin crew took place in Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. In some countries, pilots' unions also took action.

At Charleroi Airport in Belgium, around 20 strikers unfurled a strike banner at the terminal and four of 12 scheduled services were cancelled.

"Some cabin crew staff earn 2,000 euros, and you have a colleague who does exactly the same work, who only earns 1,000 euros, and with 1,000 euros in Belgium, it is impossible to live," said Yves Lambot of the CNE union in Belgium.

Tensions ran high at Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands where some passengers had already passed though security when a flight to London was cancelled with just half-an-hour until take-off.

The Dutch union VNV said it was seeking to take legal action to prevent Ryanair from bringing pilots in from abroad to replace striking Dutch crews.

At Porto airport, where Ryanair has its main base in Portugal, about 10 people queued up Friday morning in front of the airline's counter to find alternatives to cancelled flights.

"The company has provided a bus. It's not that comfortable. Instead of 50 minutes, the trip will take five hours. But at least I will arrive today," one traveller told Portugal's SIC television.

Affected customers received email and text message notifications on Tuesday to advise them of cancellations and options, Ryanair said.

Trade unions hope that Friday's 24-hour stoppage will be the biggest strike in the Irish carrier's history.

Ryanair staff have been seeking higher wages and an end to the practice whereby many have been working as independent contractors without the benefits of staff employees.&nbsp;

Workers' rights

A key complaint of workers based in countries other than Ireland is the fact that Ryanair has been employing them under Irish legislation.

Staff claim this creates huge insecurity for them, blocking their access to state benefits in their country.

EU Social Affairs Commissioner Marianne Thyssen said on Wednesday air crew should be employed under contracts from the country where they work.

"Respecting EU law is not something over which workers should have to negotiate, nor is it something which can be done differently from country to country. I made this very clear to Mr O'Leary today," Thyssen said in a statement after a meeting between Ryanair's combative chief executive Michael O'Leary and EU officials.

At a press conference the same day, O'Leary called for cancellation of the strike, threatening that he would shrink Ryanair's fleet at two Brussels airports if it went ahead.&nbsp;

Last month, Ryanair pilots across Europe staged a coordinated 24-hour stoppage to push their demands for better pay and conditions, plunging tens of thousands of passengers into transport chaos at the peak of the busy summer season.

In July, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers.

This week, Ryanair signed deals with cabin crew unions in Italy to provide employment contracts under Italian law.

The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has called on Ryanair to compensate passengers affected by the strikes.

Ryanair cancelled scores of European flights on Friday as unions staged what they warned could be the biggest strike in the airline's history. The Dublin-based carrier has played down fears of widespread disruption but confirmed it would cancel about 250 flights.

Ryanair cancelled scores of European flights on Friday as unions staged what they warned could be the biggest strike in the airline's history. The Dublin-based carrier has played down fears of widespread disruption but confirmed it would cancel about 250 flights. "Today, over 2,150 Ryanair flights (90 per cent of our schedule) will operate as normal carrying 400,000 customers across Europe," the airline said in statement. Walk-outs by cabin crew took place in Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. In some countries, pilots' unions also took action. At Charleroi Airport in Belgium, around 20 strikers unfurled a strike banner at the terminal and four of 12 scheduled services were cancelled. "Some cabin crew staff earn 2,000 euros, and you have a colleague who does exactly the same work, who only earns 1,000 euros, and with 1,000 euros in Belgium, it is impossible to live," said Yves Lambot of the CNE union in Belgium. Tensions ran high at Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands where some passengers had already passed though security when a flight to London was cancelled with just half-an-hour until take-off. The Dutch union VNV said it was seeking to take legal action to prevent Ryanair from bringing pilots in from abroad to replace striking Dutch crews. At Porto airport, where Ryanair has its main base in Portugal, about 10 people queued up Friday morning in front of the airline's counter to find alternatives to cancelled flights. "The company has provided a bus. It's not that comfortable. Instead of 50 minutes, the trip will take five hours. But at least I will arrive today," one traveller told Portugal's SIC television. Affected customers received email and text message notifications on Tuesday to advise them of cancellations and options, Ryanair said. Trade unions hope that Friday's 24-hour stoppage will be the biggest strike in the Irish carrier's history. Ryanair staff have been seeking higher wages and an end to the practice whereby many have been working as independent contractors without the benefits of staff employees. Workers' rights A key complaint of workers based in countries other than Ireland is the fact that Ryanair has been employing them under Irish legislation. Staff claim this creates huge insecurity for them, blocking their access to state benefits in their country. EU Social Affairs Commissioner Marianne Thyssen said on Wednesday air crew should be employed under contracts from the country where they work. "Respecting EU law is not something over which workers should have to negotiate, nor is it something which can be done differently from country to country. I made this very clear to Mr O'Leary today," Thyssen said in a statement after a meeting between Ryanair's combative chief executive Michael O'Leary and EU officials. At a press conference the same day, O'Leary called for cancellation of the strike, threatening that he would shrink Ryanair's fleet at two Brussels airports if it went ahead. Last month, Ryanair pilots across Europe staged a coordinated 24-hour stoppage to push their demands for better pay and conditions, plunging tens of thousands of passengers into transport chaos at the peak of the busy summer season. In July, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers. This week, Ryanair signed deals with cabin crew unions in Italy to provide employment contracts under Italian law. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has called on Ryanair to compensate passengers affected by the strikes.

Ryanair cancels flights as strike hits Europe

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