Ryanair has agreed a four-year pay deal for its pilots based in Ireland with the Fórsa trade union.

Under the agreement, full pay for Ryanair pilots will be restored this month following cuts made during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pilots will receive three annual pay increases over the next four years up to March 2027.

The agreement between the budget airline and the union was facilitated by discussions that took place last Friday at the Workplace Relations Commission.

“We welcome this pay restoration agreement with Fórsa and our Irish pilots which will see pay cuts previously agreed during Covid restored in the December payroll in time for Christmas," said Darrell Hughes, people director at Ryanair.

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"This agreement which includes annual pay increases for the next four years now brings our Irish pilots into line with similar pay restoration deals concluded with our other pilot unions across Europe over the past 9 months. 

"We are grateful for the assistance of the WRC in reaching this sensible agreement with Fórsa and our Irish Pilots.”

The announcement comes after Ryanair added four routes to its summer schedule from Belfast International Airport.

The airline will fly from the Northern Irish capital to Budapest, Cardiff, Majorca and Valencia, bringing its total number of routes at the airport to 16, operating over 140 weekly flights over the peak period.

Ryanair also has two aircrafts based at Belfast, and the summer schedule represents an investment of $200m in the airport, with over 800 jobs.

“The addition of a further four new routes by Ryanair is a fantastic way to end 2022.  These exciting new destinations, particularly Budapest and Cardiff, which are both previously unserved, are most welcome and will provide further connectivity from Northern Ireland," said Graham Keddie, managing director of Belfast Internatonal Airport.

"From March 2023 Ryanair will now operate 16 new routes and base two aircraft providing a real boost to the local tourism and business economy.”

Fórsa said it would ballots its members on the decision, with a recommendation to vote in favour of the proposed agreement.

“The outcome of these pay discussions mark a positive outcome to the process, and I wish to acknowledge the WRC for its invaluable assistance in bringing talks to a conclusion," said Ian McDonnell, assistant secretary general of Fórsa.

“The new collective agreement provides for improved pay and certainty for pilots over the next four years, and preparations for a ballot of our members on the terms of this proposed agreement are now underway."

Photo: Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair. (Pic: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)