The Ryanair Pilot Strikes Aren't Over Quite Yet...
After widespread European pilot strikes roiled budget carrier Ryanair all summer, the low-cost airline's staffing woes aren't quite behind it yet.
Ryanair's German pilots announced plans for another walkout on Wednesday to protest wages and work conditions. The German pilots' union Condemning the Cockpit was calling for a 24-hour strike for about 400 of the airline's pilots and co-pilots, the Local reports. German-based cabin crew unions also called for a walkout of about 1,000 crew members, the Independent says.
All Ryanair flights to and from all 16 cities it serves in Germany will likely be affected. The carrier has informed passengers that it will try to operate its flights to its German destinations, and it has waived rebooking fees so passengers can change flights to a different day this week with no extra charge.
The Dublin-based airline has settled strikes with its Ireland- and Italy-based pilots' unions, but Germany hasn't yet agreed to the carrier's negotiating terms. Ryanair was threatening layoffs in Germany if the demonstrations continued.
"These threatened strikes can only damage Ryanair's business in Germany, and if they continue, will lead to base cuts and job cuts for both German pilots and cabin crew, particularly at some secondary German bases," Kenny Jacobs, chief marketing officer for the airline, said in a statement.
The low-cost airline's Irish pilots faced a similar consequence, as Ryanair officials said it would be moving 20% of its Dublin-based fleet to Poland and laying off 100 pilots and 200 cabin crew staffers as a result of the strikes there.
Tens of thousands of passengers had their Ryanair flights grounded as pilots and cabin crew across Europe protested the carrier's work conditions. The labor unions organizing the strike claim that "employees are hired by Ryanair or its subsidiaries under contracts governed by countries where they are not based, reducing their leave allowances, causing wage disparities and impeding the workers' access to state benefits," the AP reports.
Ryanair's German pilots joined the strikes in early August and were among the last to join the demonstrations, which were started by the airline's Irish pilots on July 12. Additionally, the airline's pilots and cabin crew in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Ireland, Sweden and the Netherlands all protested the carrier's wages and labor conditions this summer.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees