Ryanair demands repayment of salary increases from Spanish cabin crew members after court ruling

Ryanair has asked several cabin crew members in Spain to repay salary increases received between October 2024 and March 2025, following a ruling by Spain’s Audiencia Nacional. The court annulled the airline’s first collective agreement signed with the CCOO union after a legal challenge by rival union USO, which argued that the negotiation process was irregular and the bargaining table improperly constituted. The ruling has triggered Ryanair to roll back the agreed pay rises and demand reimbursement from non-CCOO staff.

According to reporting by El Confidencial, affected employees have been informed that the amounts owed will be deducted directly from future payslips. While CCOO-affiliated staff are not being asked to return the extra pay, USO claims Ryanair has also reverted their salaries to pre-agreement levels. The union criticized Ryanair’s actions, saying they punish workers for a dispute caused by flawed management and negotiation practices. USO is currently assessing potential legal responses to protect the impacted crew members.

This latest controversy adds to a series of labor disputes between Ryanair and its Spanish workforce. The airline has previously faced sanctions from Spain’s labour inspectorate for underpaying staff and was ordered by the Supreme Court to reverse pandemic-era wage cuts. The repayment demand deepens tensions between Ryanair and local unions and raises broader concerns about the company’s compliance with Spanish labor laws. (Source: El Confidencial)