The British Air Line Pilots Association (BALPA) and their counterparts at the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) have reached a "ground-breaking" agreement in principle to work together to cover the organisation of pilots at Irish budget carrier Ryanair.
"I am delighted that IALPA and BALPA have recognised that the changing face of European aviation demands novel solutions such as this," says IALPA president Capt Evan Cullen. The unions say the agreement is the culmination of eight months' work evolving a strategy to "effectively address the issue of representation across the new breed of pan-European airlines".
BALPA chairman Mervyn Granshaw says: "Over the next few weeks the detail will be communicated to existing and prospective members who we know from our research will be delighted to at last have their own voice."
The UK pilots' union has long battled to gain union recognition at the low-cost carrier, which is headquartered in Dublin but has operating bases across Europe, including its largest at London Stansted.
GRAHAM DUNN / LONDON
Source: Flight International
