Ryanair warns workers that at least 600 Spanish jobs are surplus

Ryanair executives preparing for thousands of job cuts warned employees in Spain that the collapse of air travel had left the discount airline with more than 600 surplus pilots and cabin crew in the country. The Irish carrier estimates it has an excess of 266 pilots and 351 cabin crew, People Director Darrell Hughes said on a video conference call seen by Bloomberg News. “That doesn’t mean they’ll all have to be job losses” said Hughes, who was joined by unit CEO Eddie Wilson. Other measures aimed at slashing costs include lower pay rates for new hires and additional rostering flexibility. Part-time work is one solution the company should explore with unions, Hughes said. Two months into a grounding of its entire fleet, the airline is clamping down on costs and digging in for a slow recovery. Ryanair plans to restart operations from July 1 with about 40% of its usual capacity in a bid to salvage part of the summer season, though CEO Michael O’Leary has predicted a price war across a much diminished air-travel market.<br/>