Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) has said it might close some of its German bases, particularly in smaller cities, if the local trade unions continue to strike, The Times has reported.
"These threatened strikes can only damage Ryanair’s business in Germany and if they continue will lead to base cuts and job cuts for both German pilots and cabin crew, particularly at some secondary German bases," Chief Marketing Office Kenny Jacobs said after unions announced a strike for September 12 with only one day's notice.
The September 12 strike forced the Irish LCC to cancel some 150 of around planned 400 flights in Germany on that day.
While Ryanair is entangled in labour disputes in a number of countries, the German situation is particularly complicated. The LCC insists it would deal with its German employees only through an Irish intermediary, while the largest German pilot union, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) demands direct talks.
According to the ch-aviation capacity module, Ryanair currently has twelve bases in Germany, namely Berlin Schönefeld, Bremen Hans Koschnick, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Weeze, Frankfurt International, Frankfurt Hahn, Hamburg Helmut Schmidt, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Memmingen, and Nuremberg. The airline also serves Munich, Stuttgart Manfred Rommel, and Leipzig/Halle in the country.
