Ryanair lures back flight operations head to help prevent repeat of pilot debacle

Ryanair has lured its former flight operations director Peter Bellew back to the fold from Malaysia Airlines. Bellew worked for Ryanair between 2006 and 2014 and was latterly responsible for building a new team and developing the processes to operate the carrier’s expanded fleet on the back of a bumper plane order. His experience could be key for the Irish airline, which has endured a torrid couple of months after cancelling 2,100 flights in September and October - up to 50 a day - due to an error over pilot holiday rosters. It delivered a further blow this month when it said an extra 18,000 flights for the winter season were cancelled - a move that will hit 400,000 bookings. Bellew, who now runs Malaysia Airlines, will take on responsibility for all of Ryanair's flight operations, ground operations and engineering. But, the company added, he would have a “specific responsibility” for pilot production, training and career development with a “mission to ensure that the pilot rostering failure which Ryanair suffered in early September will never be repeated”. Ryanair CE Michael O’Leary said Mr Bellew had “unrivalled knowledge” of its business model and growth plan. Bellew will arrive on December 1. He took on one of the toughest jobs in aviation in April 2016, becoming the CE of Malaysia Airlines, the carrier which was struck with the double tragedies of flights MH370 and MH17.<br/>