Europe's biggest low-cost airline has promised better pay and working conditions for pilots. It wants to stop them leaving the company. The CEO of Ryanair wrote to the budget airline's 4,200 pilots to address their concerns. He offered pilots salary increases of up to $11,700 and loyalty bonuses. A long-serving pilot told the BBC this was, "too little, too late". He said: "There is a lack of basic benefits [for pilots] - no free bottles of water, coffee or tea and no crew meals." Pilots also had to buy their own uniform. He added: "People have just had enough of the toxic atmosphere."
The CEO is trying to repair the damage done to Ryanair's image after a scheduling error with pilot holidays. This mistake meant more than 20,000 flights have been cancelled because of a lack of available pilots. This has affected 700,000 passengers. An industry analyst said the airline disrespected the "skill set" of pilots. He said Ryanair was "being forced to backpedal, apologize and meet [pilots'] pay demands". The CEO is confident that pilots will stay with Ryanair, "for a brighter, better future". He added: "We are a very secure employer in a very insecure industry."