Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary waived €950,000 bonus over pilot rostering row

Airline chief executive’s move last year cut his remuneration to €2.3m

Speaking at a press conference in Vienna Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary has said that staff are striking "for the sake of striking". Video: Reuters

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary waived an estimated €900,000 bonus following a rostering mix-up last year that forced the airline to cancel thousands of flights.

The airline cancelled thousands of flights between September 2017 and March of this year, ultimately affecting around 700,000 passengers and costing the company about €25 million.

According to Ryanair’s annual report, Mr O’Leary waived his bonus over the cancellations, reducing his pay for the 12 months ended March 31st by €950,000 to €2.31 million.

Basic pay

Mr O’Leary’s basic pay for the 12-period, the airline’s financial year, was €1.06 million, and he received €1.25 million worth of shares.

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The report does not say what his bonus would have been worth, but it came to €950,000 in 2017 and €850,000 the previous year.

Problems with rostering pilots, which first emerged in September last year, forced Ryanair to cancel flights and then slow the rate at which it planned to grow through last winter.

Mr O’Leary told shareholders at the airline’s annual general meeting the last week of September 2017 that he took full responsibility for the problem.

Ryanair subsequently said that it had re-accommodated or compensated the passengers affected.

Barry O'Halloran

Barry O'Halloran

Barry O’Halloran covers energy, construction, insolvency, and gaming and betting, among other areas