Strike-hit Ryanair warns of job losses as cuts Dublin fleet

Ryanair has told more than 300 pilots and cabin crew that they risk losing their jobs as it cuts its Dublin-based fleet by 20% for the winter season after strikes hurt bookings in its home market. The Irish low cost carrier is in the middle of its worst week of stoppages in more than three decades of flying as it struggles in talks with trade unions whom it has decided to recognise for the first time. Around a quarter of its Dublin-based pilots staged their third 24-hour stoppage in two weeks on Tuesday while cabin crew in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium began a two-day strike on Wednesday, prompting Ryanair to cancel more than 12% of its flights. Warning investors on Monday of more strikes this summer, CE Michael O’Leary said he would consider moving aircraft from Ireland, Belgium and Portugal and acted swiftly within 48 hours. “If our reputation for reliability or forward bookings is affected, then base and potential job cuts such as these at Dublin are a deeply regretted consequence,” Ryanair COO Peter Bellew said. Ryanair in turn said it could not rule out cutting further aircraft and jobs from Dublin as a result of the latest strike and would not hold any further meetings with the union while the threat of strikes hangs over its Irish business.<br/>