RYANAIR HAS AGREED a four-year pay deal with its Irish pilots, which will include the immediate restoration of pay cuts made during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Irish airline had spent months in discussions with Fórsa over a long-term pay deal.

In July, the company said it had agreed on terms to restore pay cuts with all pilot unions excluding in Ireland and Belgium.

In October, the union said it had asked the country’s Workplace Relations Commission to mediate after talks reached an impasse.

Under the new deal, Ryanair’s pilots in Ireland will now receive three years of pay increases over the next four years until March 2027, the low-cost carrier told investors today.

Fórsa confirmed that the proposals, which include post-Covid pay restoration measures brought foward from 2023 – in addition to pay restructuring measures – will be put to a ballot of its pilot members at Ryanair with a recommendation to vote in favour of the proposed agreement.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Ian McDonnell said: “The outcome of these pay discussions mark a positive outcome to the process, and I wish to acknowledge the WRC for its invaluable assistance in bringing talks to a conclusion.

“The new collective agreement provides for improved pay and certainty for pilots over the next four years, and preparations for a ballot of our members on the terms of this proposed agreement are now underway,” he said.

Ryanair saw minor disruption this summer due to strikes by cabin crew workers.

The airline’s people director, Darrell Hughes, said: “We welcome this pay restoration agreement with Forsa and our Irish pilots which will see pay cuts previously agreed during Covid restored in the December payroll, in time for Christmas.

“This agreement, which includes annual pay increases for the next four years, now brings our Irish pilots into line with similar pay restoration deals concluded with our other pilot unions across Europe over the past nine months.

“We are grateful for the assistance of the WRC in reaching this sensible agreement with Forsa and our Irish pilots.”

German airlines Eurowings and Lufthansa cancelled flights earlier this year after pilots went on strike in a row over pay.