In non-suprising news, Ryanair is to launch legal action against Channel 4 for defamation.
Channel 4 last night ran a programme (available on 4oD http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/4od) in which pilot were quoted who had worries over Ryanair’s fuel policy.
Ryanair as you can guess, isn’t too happy about the media storm this has generated – and has launched countermeasure both on its website where it responds to the claims at http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/ryanair-releases-channel-4-dispatches-letters, and by legal means.
Channel 4 states “We stand by our journalism, and will robustly defend proceedings if they are initiated.”
The Dispatches programme focused on three alerts where May-Day’s were called due to low fuel. Whilst these low fuel alerts were due to diversions, Ryanair states that the aircraft met EU Regulations.
The programme also featured a survey by the Ryanair Pilot Group – a group of Ryanair pilots seeking union representation with
- 94% wanted regulators to conduct an inquiry into the incidents
- 89% did not consider that the airline had an open and transparent safety culture
- 66% were not comfortable raising issues through an internal reporting system.
Ryanair states the group lacks any independence, and is a campaign to gain union recognition at the airline.
Whilst there is not a lot new revealed in the documentary, it does show what odds some parts of Ryanair is against its pilots.
Suffice to say – there’s a LOT to run in this argument yet.