We won’t fly with Michael O’Leary at the helm

Ryanair pilots are threatening to ground the budget airline unless its boss Michael O’Leary is sacked or resigns, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The move to force out the multi-millionaire businessman is the latest stage of a toxic row at the firm over pay, working conditions and ‘zero-hours’ contracts.

The threat comes after Ryanair cancelled 20,000 flights – affecting 750,000 passengers – between now and March 2018. Last night, sources told the MoS that pilots planned to issue an ultimatum to the Ryanair board demanding Mr O’Leary’s departure.

One captain said: ‘Michael O’Leary has to go, or we are all prepared to go. Good luck flying planes without us.’ 

The airline’s chief executive had blamed the mass cancellations on pilots’ ‘messed-up’ holiday rotas.

But other sources said the real cause was a ‘chronic’ staff shortage brought on by an exodus of trained pilots attracted by better-paid jobs at rival airlines.

They were enraged when Mr O’Leary told a recent press conference they were ‘very well paid for a very easy job’.

One captain said: ‘Michael O’Leary has to go, or we are all prepared to go. Good luck flying planes without us.’

Ryanair’s pilots have been holding meetings across the UK and mainland Europe as they mount their rebellion.

Although not unionised themselves, they have sought help from the British Airline Pilots’ Association.

Another source said: ‘Michael O’Leary is seen as a major part of the problem. He acts as a bit of a joker but it’s not funny any more.

‘There is a clear message from the pilots that they are not happy with the type of leadership he provides. He has to go.’