Ryanair Pilots’ Strike in Belgium Could Disrupt Flights to Morocco and Beyond

According to Didier Lebbe, permanent secretary of the CNE, between 40,000 and 50,000 travelers could be affected by this social movement, reports Belga. The reason for the pilots’ discontent stems from the loss of one day of rest from October 2023, as well as the demand for the restoration of the 20% salary reductions implemented during the pandemic.

Didier Lebbe condemns the company’s position, which would have tried to force the unions and non-members to withdraw their complaints about Ryanair’s past shortcomings. The response of the company’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, to these allegations was to say that he would be delighted to face the unions in court. "There is nothing to negotiate, the law simply needs to be respected," Lebbe declares, emphasizing the importance of multinationals respecting the legislation in place.

On the passenger side, Ryanair must find alternatives or offer a refund in the event of flight cancellations, as the consumer association Testachats reminds. Passengers are also entitled to additional compensation in the event of cancellation less than two weeks before the scheduled departure. For its part, the company has not yet reacted to this threat of strike by its pilots based in Belgium.