Ryanair has paid out £40,000 to settle an unfair dismissal claim brought by a pilot sacked for passing trade union leaflets to cabin crew during a flight. The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) hailed the payout by Ryanair as “a significant victory”.
Balpa member Captain James Anderson filed for unfair dismissal after he was sacked by Ryanair on the grounds of “gross misconduct”. The airline argued Anderson had endangered passengers by handing union leaflets to cabin crew during a flight from Stansted to Majorca.
However, the Irish-based carrier settled ahead of an employment tribunal hearing in London. Anderson’s union was due to tell the tribunal that the aircraft was on autopilot at the point when the pilot spoke to the crew.
Ryanair said it was “pleased” with the settlement, having avoided the cost of a three-day hearing by settling in advance. The carrier wished its former pilot “every success in the future”. Ryanair declines to recognise Balpa or any other trade union.