A Ryanair flight was cancelled and another delayed yesterday, according to SIPTU, the union representing the company's striking baggage handlers at Dublin Airport.
The company declined to confirm or deny whether flight FR222 from Dublin to Stansted was cancelled. It said delays to flight FR152 from Dublin to Leeds and Bradford were due to technical reasons.
Last night a Ryanair spokeswoman said the schedule ran as normal and that there was "a better on-time performance by Ryanair today than by British Midland or Aer Lingus".
It was again a day of claim and counter-claim by the two sides about the effects of the baggage-handlers' strike. SIPTU claimed flight FR152 was almost two hours late in departing. Ryanair said it was only 35 minutes. SIPTU was also predicting that the delay in the FR152 take-off would delay later flights.
Ryanair rejected SIPTU claims that it was using large numbers of people to do the work normally done by the strikers. It said 16 volunteers were handling baggage during the two three-hour stoppages by handlers. None of the volunteers was being paid but would receive time off in lieu.
Ryanair's chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary, met the striking baggage-handlers again yesterday and appealed to them not to go on strike. However, the majority of handlers normally rostered for duty decided to continue their action. In a statement later the company said: "Thanks to the efforts of the remaining 97 per cent of our people, the airline's operations continued as normal throughout the busy weekend."
SIPTU said the three-hour stoppages would continue today. It is then expected to review its strategy.
This morning the baggage-handlers coming on duty will not have been involved in the strike so far. SIPTU is expecting them to carry out a similar three-hour stoppage to those during the two shifts in the dispute since Friday. The company will be hoping that they will work normally.
Yesterday the vast majority of the regular baggage-handlers stopped work, and most of the remainder reported sick or were on annual leave, according to SIPTU. It said the morning stoppage began at 11.30 a.m. and the evening stoppage at 4 p.m.
After today the union is expected to review its tactics. It may escalate the action or opt to switch to stoppages aimed at peak traffic times.