Ryanair cancels 1% of flights on Friday as strike crisis deepens

Ryanair plans to cancel only 1% of its flights during a strike by Ireland-based pilots on Friday, but Europe's largest low-cost airline is bracing for far wider industrial action across five countries next week. The Irish airline said Tuesday that it expects to cancel 24 of roughly 2,300 daily flights on Friday because of the action by about 100 of 350 Irish-based pilots in a strike it said was regrettable. The pilots, who are also planning to strike on July 24, are demanding a more transparent system of pay, promotions and transfers as they aim to limit what they say is management's excessive discretion over pilots' careers. Ryanair says it offers some of the best working conditions in the low-cost sector. Next week Ryanair faces action in two of its three largest markets, with strikes by cabin crew in Spain and Italy, as well as in Portugal and Belgium.<br/>