While activity is picking up for low-cost airlines, pilots and air hostesses are mobilizing in France to demand better wages and improved working conditions after two years of efforts to cushion the losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ryanair, Volotea, Vueling: strike notices have multiplied in France in recent weeks in low-cost companies.

“In view of the efforts we made during the Covid, we expect a fair return of the elevator”, explains Jean Patrikainen, union representative of the national union of airline pilots (SNPL) at Ryanair.

Last year, the pilots of the Irish company agreed to reduce their wages by 20% to overcome the crisis experienced by the airline sector.

But "now we are working normally again," says Jean Patrikainen, who is asking for "an acceleration in the recovery of our salaries".

The agreement signed with management provides for a very gradual recovery with a return to normal expected for 2025. An “unacceptable” pace given the “very strong recovery” expected by group boss Michael O'Leary.

Wages cut during the crisis

After threatening to strike on Saturday (67% of the pilots had declared themselves to be on strike), the SNPL lifted the notice on Thursday after management promised to open discussions after months of silence.

At Volotea, a low-cost Spanish airline, the strike is on the other hand maintained for this weekend.

"Conditions have been steadily deteriorating for two years," describes Christophe Hannot, SNPL union representative.

Yet initially, "everyone considered it essential that employees adapt to the situation," he says.

The captains agreed to cut their salaries by 25% and the co-pilots by 10%.

The measure ended at the beginning of the year but in March the management returned to the charge to demand a further reduction in salary.

“Except that the prospects for the year 2022 already far exceed the figures for the year 2019”, indignant Christophe Hannot.

“I think that (the low cost companies) took advantage of the Covid to further deteriorate working conditions and operate this famous social dumping”, advances the pilot.

The SNPL therefore calls for "a revaluation of the base salary, an increase in night hours and fixed schedules" with the end of the changes imposed 24 or 48 hours before a flight.

Cabin crew also on strike

The management of Volotea did not wish to react.

It just specifies that it is doing “everything to reduce the impact of the strike movement on its operations as much as possible”.


For the moment, only 14 pilots (out of a hundred) have declared themselves to be on strike.

But the cabin crew (PNC, hostesses and stewards) have also filed notice.

The movement should be "massively followed", provides Alizée Bonaure, SNPNC union representative.

In the bases of Marseille and Strasbourg, 100% of the personnel declared themselves on strike, she affirms.

Last Saturday, a similar movement at Ryanair severely disrupted traffic with delays of up to 10 hours and a canceled flight between Bordeaux and Marseille, according to the unions.

“The company had dispatched five planes based in Poland and Lithuania to replace the striking crews”, explains Damien Mourgues of the SNPNC.

Like the pilots, Ryanair's cabin crew put their move on hold after opening discussions with management.

Same thing at Vueling where the management, faced with the threat of a strike, agreed to increase salaries by 150 euros gross for all employees with at least one year of seniority.

A measure approved by a short head (52.4%) by employees during an electronic vote.

Company

Roissy: “The plane does almost anything…” An investigation opened after a “serious incident” on a New York-Paris flight

Nantes

Nantes: The low-cost company Volotea prosecuted for exceeding working hours

  • Aviation

  • Strike

  • Pilot

  • Pilots strike

  • low-cost

  • Economy