Ryanair shareholders should oust CE Michael O’Leary at the airline’s annual general meeting this month, an investment adviser has urged. The company, which is still dealing with industrial unrest after settling a dispute with a group of Irish-based pilots, will hold its yearly meeting of shareholders Sept 20th. Investor adviser Pension & Investment Research Consultancy (Pirc) recommends that shareholders vote against re-electing O’Leary, citing the industrial unrest and flight cancellations at the airline over the last year. Other firms such as Glass Lewis, recently advised shareholders to oppose the re-elections of chairman David Bonderman and non-executive director, Kyran McLaughlin. Pirc’s note, published Tuesday, is the first to call on shareholders to oppose the reappointment of O’Leary. <br/>
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Ryanair threatened to cut bases and jobs in Germany after pilots and cabin crew there said they would strike Wednesday, forcing it to cancel 150 services. The airline said Tuesday that its smaller bases in Europe’s largest economy -- where it has around 400 daily flights -- are especially at risk of being shut down, since they fail to make money in the winter low season. While Ryanair has made progress in negotiations elsewhere, unions in Germany said Monday that talks on pay and contracts had failed to produce an agreement. “We want a stable collective labour agreement,” COO Peter Bellew said. “If we can’t achieve that it’s going to be difficult to maintain our normal business in Germany.” The last walkout in Germany Aug 10, which also involved pilots in 4 other countries, led to the cancellation of more than 400 flights. <br/>
Flynas said it will soon start recruiting Saudi women to work as co-pilots as the kingdom loosens gender restrictions to bolster economic growth. The based airline said it will be the first among Saudi carriers to recruit women in senior positions. The move aims to enable Saudi women to have a greater role in supporting the kingdom’s economy, CE Bandar Almohanna said. Under crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has eased rules that had limited female participation in the workforce and removed a longstanding ban on women driving. Women, however, still need the approval of male guardians to travel or marry -- though not to obtain a driver’s license. Established in 2007, Flynas has a fleet of 30 aircraft flying to 17 Saudi and 53 international destinations. <br/>
Virgin Australia has just completed a major biofuel trial at Australia’s Brisbane Airport, and the carrier is planning further tests in the near future. Along with its partner organisations, Virgin arranged to have a biofuel blend supplied through Brisbane Airport’s aircraft refuelling infrastructure. The carrier said this was the first time a sustainable fuel type has been delivered through the traditional fuel system at an Australian airport. The blend of biojet fuel and jet fuel was supplied to a range of airlines using Brisbane Airport. All flights departing the airport during the trial period were fuelled with the blend, totalling 195 domestic and international flights. The trial used biojet fuel produced in the US, as there is currently no production of advanced sustainable aviation fuel in Australia, the carrier said. <br/>