Following its decision to formally recognise organized pilot labour, Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) could open new bases in France and Scandinavia CEO Michael O'Leary has said. To date, strong union opposition has inhibited the LCC's growth in these countries. As such, Europe's largest LCC has no bases in any of France, Denmark, or Norway, but does maintain two in Sweden - Stockholm Skavsta and Gothenburg Landvetter.
"Clearly one of the upsides of engaging in union recognition, from our point of view, is that it opens up growth opportunities for us in France and Scandinavia, countries that were previously closed to us because we felt it was going to involve mandatory union recognition," O'Leary told Reuters.
Ryanair closed its only French base, in Marseilles, in early 2011 after a French court ruled that all flight and cabin crew employed at the French port city were subject to French labour laws, granting better social protection and rights to employees in comparison to Irish law.
The LCC has also operated bases at Billund and Copenhagen Kastrup in Denmark but closed them in mid-2015; the former after less than four months due to the opposition from labour unions and politicians. Currently, the carrier operates ninety-two weekly departures out of a total of four Danish airports.
Ryanair also closed its sole Norwegian base at Oslo Rygge in 2016 after Norway introduced an aviation tax.
