Ryanair PLC (LON:RYA) has formally recognised BALPA as the sole union for UK pilots, but slammed its Irish equivalent for a lack of action.
The announcement follows a U-turn in policy for the budget airline in December after thousands of flight cancellations over the summer due to pilot shortages.
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Ryanair also faced a strike by pilots during Christmas but last month announced it would recognise pilot unions in five countries - the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The UK accounts for almost 100 of the current fleet of 400 plus aircraft fleet and over 25% of pilots.
Eddie Wilson, Ryanair's Chief People Officer welcomed the UK recognition agreement, which he said shows how serious Ryanair is about working constructively with unions that are willing to work constructively with the airline.
He added, however, that this rapid progress in the UK was “in marked contrast to some other EU countries where we are still waiting for a response to our recognition proposals and where some unions have failed to put these substantial pay increases to our pilots”.
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“In Dublin for example, where just 35% of our pilots have not yet received this pay increase, we have warned FÓRSA/IALPA that we will offer it to these pilots individually if they refuse/fail to organise a vote among just 35% of our Dublin pilots on this pay increase on/before 31 Jan.”
Ryanair had been losing pilots to rivals Norwegian and Jet2, but claimed today UK pilots now earn 20% more than its rivals.