Ryanair Pilot Strike Grounds 1 in 6 Flights

Ryanair pilots were striking in five European countries on Friday, forcing the cancellation of a sixth of the firm's flights during the holiday season peak. The 24-hour walk-out involves staff in Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands. About 50,000 passengers are understood to have been told of cancellations on 400 flights, BBC reported. The action is the largest in a series of strikes over pay and conditions. Ryanair says it has made every effort to resolve the dispute. The company says 85% of its scheduled flights will operate as normal on Saturday and the majority of customers affected have been given places on other Ryanair flights. The Irish airline, Europe's largest low-cost carrier, averted widespread strikes before Christmas by agreeing to recognize unions for the first time in its 30-year history. But there have been protests ever since over the negotiating of collective labor agreements. The unions want the contracts of Ryanair employees to be governed by the laws of the nation where they are based, not by Irish legislation. Ryanair has described the strike action as "regrettable and unjustified," claiming its pilots are paid more than other budget airlines.