Ryanair has insisted that a majority of its pilots attended a series of information meetings with chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary held recently in London.  Siobhan Creaton, Finance Correspondent, reports.

Those who did not attend have subsequently been warned their actions could jeopardise their careers.

In a statement issued in response to a report in The Irish Times, which said that hundreds of pilots had boycotted the meetings, Ryanair said that more than 80 per cent of the almost 250 pilots in Stansted had attended.

Sources among the pilots dispute the airline's view and reported a low attendance at a number of meetings.

The relationship between Ryanair and its 600 pilots has deteriorated in response to the cost-cutting measures introduced at the low fares airline earlier this year. The pilots claim the measures have worsened their pay and working conditions.

A brief statement issued by the company on Thursday in response to queries on the issue said it did not discuss dealings with its staff.

However, in the statement issued to the Stock Exchange yesterday, Mr Paul Fizsimmons, Ryanair head of communications, said The Irish Times report was "factually incorrect" and that it was false to claim that pilots' take-home pay had been reduced. "Ryanair pilots have recently received a 3 per cent pay increase, which results in their take-home pay being increased," he said.

The boycotting of the information meetings by pilots was an orchestrated protest, sources among the pilots have claimed.

Sources who attended some of the meetings have also said that the attendances had been poor, although Ryanair disputes this.

Those pilots who did not attend the meetings subsequently received letters from the airline seen by The Irish Times which state that by their absence they had demonstrated "a lack of interest in developing their careers and securing promotion in Ryanair."

The letters, written by Mr Warwick Brady, a Ryanair executive at Stansted, stated: "I note that you failed to attend any one of the three follow-on Town Hall meetings held on July 28th, 2004 although you had the opportunity to do so".

The dates of four further meetings were outlined and the pilots were told that the airline would ensure that their schedules would provide them with an opportunity to attend even if they were working. "I expect you to attend any one of the following meetings," Mr Brady wrote.

The letter continued: "Your absence to date suggests that you are amongst the minority of pilots not interested in developing your career with Ryanair."

The airline said the meetings were regular information meetings and were not specifically aimed at dissuading the pilots from joining the British Airlines Pilots Association (BALPA).

Mr Brady's letter also stated that the airline would continue to reward those who engage directly with the company through a superior package not achieved elsewhere by BALPA.

Mr O'Leary has said that it was false to claim that the pilots had snubbed him and that it was untrue to say that he was "incensed" by their action.

Pilots based in Dublin who were circulated with a flyer from the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) subsequently received a letter from Ryanair's head of operations, Mr David O'Brien. He told the pilots that the IALPA/BALPA campaign "has already put your careers at risk yet again".

The letter went on to threaten that the airline would refuse to train Dublin-based pilots, many of whom are senior captains, to fly its Boeing 737-800 fleet and would bring in crews from Stansted to fly them. "This is not a rumour, it is now a fact," he said.

Mr O'Brien stated that if IALPA and BALPA's "interference" at the airline did not "go away" that Ryanair would force the Irish pilots to pay to be trained on its new aircraft. Industry sources estimate this could cost as much as €35,000.

The latest round of cost-cutting measures has left Ryanair's pilots paying for their routine medical examination and their uniforms on top of their training costs.

The airline has also frozen their existing pensions and does not provide pensions for new recruits. More than half of its pilots have now joined BALPA and IALPA and want the trade unions to represent them.