Ryanair has confirmed plans to close its Canary Islands bases, blaming ongoing delays in delivery of its new Boeing 737 Max aircraft.
The low-cost airline made the admission in a statement railing against planned strike action next month by a “small number” of its Spain-based cabin crew.
Ryanair said the strikes would affect a handful of its 950 daily flights to and from Spain, with six cancellations planned on 1 September and eight on 2 September. Passengers have been notified by email and text.
“We remain open to engaging with SITCPLA and USO [unions], and we call on them to return to talks,” said the airline in a statement.
“The closure of loss-making winter bases in the Canary Islands due to the Boeing Max aircraft delivery delays will not be reversed by these pointless strikes.”
Ryanair has 135 of Boeing’s grounded aircraft on order, around which it had based its 2019/20 winter, spring and summer schedules.
