Ryanair threatens to close German bases

Ryanair wants to close their bases in Frankfurt Hahn, Berlin Tegel and Düsseldorf, after German pilots voted against a cost-saving package that would significantly reduce their wages. According to the budget carrier, there is now no other option than to close the bases.

“We now have to achieve cost savings in alternative ways,” Ryanair said in a memo to the pilots, reports Reuters. According to the memo, 70 percent of the flight crew have already agreed to the cost saving measures.

In the past, Ryanair threatened several times that bases would be closed should the conflict with their pilots persist. Sometimes this led to an agreement, such as in Vienna with subsidiary Laudamotion. Bases where no agreement could be reached were cloased on short notice.

Ryanair says it will provide more information next week. The airline has not yet aanounced how many jobs are at stake.