Ryanair could cut as many as 900 jobs according to a video statement given by Michael O'Leary. In the video, Mr O'Leary claimed that pilot resignations had dried up since January.
Earlier this month, we reported that Ryanair was expecting to have far fewer planes in the 2020 summer season than expected. This is largely due to the fact that a large order for the Boeing 737-8200 is not currently being delivered. Delivery of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is on hold following Donald Trump's grounding of the aircraft earlier this year.
Fewer aircraft for the summer season
Ryanair will have fewer aircraft than planned for the summer 2020 season. O'Leary told how he was expecting to be operating 58 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in the summer of 2020. However, according to the Ryanair CEO, the best-case scenario will only see Ryanair operating 30 of these aircraft. As this is the best-case scenario, the Irish low-cost carrier could be left operating even fewer than 30 MAXs.
This gives Ryanair an issue, as by operating with fewer aircraft, the airline is forced to operate fewer flights. Operating fewer flights will lead to less staff being needed. According to O'Leary, this means about 600 less staff. This comes at a time when Ryanair's UK pilots are voting on strike action over pay and conditions.
Sky News published part of O'Leary's video:
"Resignations have dried up"
Ryanair's CEO goes on to tell that before considering the effects of the MAX grounding, there is already a surplus of pilots and cabin crew. This is because the low-cost carrier has seen resignations "dry up" since the start of the year. In fact, he tells how they have become "effectively zero since January 2019".
This, unfortunately, means that Ryanair has a surplus of around 900 members of staff. O'Leary tells how this figure is made up of over 500 pilots. Additionally, he mentions that there is a surplus of around 400 cabin crew. According to the BBC, a number of redundancies will be announced in August.
Brexit concern
The Irish low-cost airline's CEO then goes on to mention the "increasing likelihood of a no-deal Brexit in just 12 weeks time". He warns that the airline is worried about the effect which could be damaging. This could particularly be felt at the carrier's UK and Ireland bases which depend on flights to and from the UK.
In July, Simple Flying caught up with airBaltic's CEO, Martin Gauss. We asked him for his thoughts on Brexit given that the airline operates flights to London. He told us:
I do not believe in whatever scenario comes that the flying between the UK and Europe will be changed. There might be difficulties going in and out of the country, there might be all sorts of restrictions. But we are flying now for 100 years civil aircraft, I cannot imagine that anybody would be so stupid to interfere in flying between countries.