Ryanair strike threat lingers amid promise to respond to pilot union

The threat of a Ryanair strike continued to hover over Irish airports Wednesday as the airline said it would respond “comprehensively” to pilot union Impact’s demand that it conclude a recognition agreement by noon Thursday. The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) – part of trade union Impact – warned, following a meeting this week, that it could still act on its mandate for a strike at Cork, Dublin and Shannon airports if a deal is not agreed by the Thursday deadline. Ryanair’s chief people officer, Eddie Wilson, confirmed that the airline would “respond comprehensively” to the union’s demand. “I think that they will be reassured by that,” he said. Newly appointed COO, Peter Bellew, wrote to pilots Wednesday saying that Ryanair had told Impact that it was recognising the union for collective bargaining. <br/>