Nine Dutch pilots in total demand several million from their employer Ryanair because of the closure of the base in Eindhoven. This includes compensation for harassment and compensation for loss of income if they start working for another airline after being fired and have to start at the bottom of the ladder.
The pilots have been at home since the departure of Ryanair from Eindhoven and no longer want to work for the Irish price fighter.
In a lawsuit against Ryanair the pilots ask the court in Eindhoven on Tuesday to dissolve their contract. Due to gross negligence on the part of the airline, they believe they are entitled to compensation.
“Ryanair has made life miserable for them and deliberately steered them to escalate the conflict,” motivated lawyer Alwin Stege of pilot union VNV Tuesday. Per person he demands up to 1 million euros.
The judge ruled in November that Ryanair decided without good reason to remove four planes from Eindhoven. The pilots and the judge suspect that the base in Eindhoven was closed as retaliation for two strikes.
Ryanair denies that and repeated Tuesday that there were economic reasons for the abandoning of Eindhoven.
The pilots hoped that Ryanair would reverse the closure. Now that that has not happened, they are no longer loyal and all looking for a different employer.