Ryanair – Suspicions of false self – raids at Ryanair locations – Süddeutsche.de

• Investigators have searched equal to six locations in Germany spaces of the budget airline Ryanair.
• The authorities suspect that pilots work bogus self for Irish society.
• The investigation into alleged but tax and social security fraud are not directed against Ryanair itself, but against two British personnel companies.

There is hardly a company president in Europe who so offends as Michael O’Leary of Ryanair. Pilots were “glorified taxi driver”, said Irish businessman some years ago. And announced the same, eventually the “aircraft without pilots” will come. The masters of the skies would then only need to “look to the door to pay toilet is not binding”.

but still needs Europe’s largest budget airline a lot of pilots, increasingly even to the now bring around 100 million passengers a year safely. For a long time indeed is believed within the industry, not only because O’Learys sayings that Ryanair considers the pilot only as annoying and unnecessary cost. Now there is new evidence of questionable business practices that made the successful model of Ryanair possible. Cheap tickets, low cost, ever higher profits

files were seized, pilots interviewed

Police and customs officials have in recent days pilot areas searched to no less than six German locations of Ryanair: Cologne, Berlin-Schönefeld, Frankfurt-Hahn, Baden-Baden, Karlsruhe and Niederrhein-Weeze. The investigation for alleged tax and social security fraud depend on information from the responsible for the case prosecutor in Koblenz but not against the budget airline. But have against two British personnel companies that made many drivers under contract and loaned to Ryanair. The authorities suspected the bogus self after. According to Chief Prosecutor Hans Peter Gandner is furthermore against a “variety” determined by flight captains; because of possible aid for tax and social security fraud. In Germany stationed pilots should have their taxes and fees contrary to the provisions not in this country settled.

Police and customs have not only files and folders seized in the raid, but also heard the same pilot. From whom they would get for their money, who unites them rush to work and whether they would be paid even in vacation and sick, were the questions. The raid was not the first action in this Causa. By way of legal aid from the British authorities, the two staffing companies were searched earlier already. According to Attorney Gandner the process has been running for six years. Now “new evidence” therefore had revealed now the raid. Prosecutors hope to conclude the investigation this year

Many pilots work as Ich-AG -. At least officially

would meet the suspect, then the two British personnel companies were the main perpetrators , O’Learys budget airline would probably out fine. One is considered strictly formal, not the employer of the pilots. Ryanair said it had met with the German authorities and “agreed to this with regard to their investigations on some contract pilots’ support. “Contractor Pilots” hot this flight captains in industry jargon. The low line informed further, we ask of all the pilots, “that they always behave as tax obligations”. This applies both for flight captains who are directly employed by Ryanair, as well as for contract pilots. “If the German authorities need additional support, we gladly offer this.” Sounds generous. A key question is, however: if the procedure superfluous when the captains of the Air generous or simply paid only a little better would

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contract pilots that are in a sense I-AG’s. So employees who are officially self-employed and companies whose sole purpose is their own work, so sell yourself. Other budget airlines and other companies use such business models. Ryanair is there not an isolated incident, but is now in focus. Not legally, but corporate policy. For the President of the European pilots’ union ECA, Dirk Polloczek, it is incomprehensible that, while investigating airline pilots, but not against Ryanair itself. It could not be that repeatedly stood the pilots in the center of the investigation, while the company remained sidelined, Polloczek told the WDR.

pilots feared by the investigation the loss of their licenses

the captain James Phillips from the pilots’ union cockpit has spoken with several of the pilots concerned. Many were very upset and were now afraid for their future. “Some are afraid that they might lose by the investigation of their pilot’s license,” Philip told the WDR.

A source had a year ago reported that pilots would be in the event of incapacity protect themselves and have not entitled to pension. She also wore a high risk that the monthly salary is concerned, because Ryanair guarantee any minimum flight hours. “It will be paid only when you fly. You get a roster set, and if we do not succeed for any reason, to perceive a service if you are sick, for example, you get those hours not paid.”

Whether that’s true or not, and what to think of the suspected tax and social security fraud or aid for this purpose, which must demonstrate further investigations. On the positive figures from Ryanair that little is likely to change. Passengers are only interested in how cheap the tickets are usually. And is not busy with whom the pilot. And also at O’Learys occurrence is likely to remain. The Ryanair boss has finally success with its loop. “The environmental interests me a damn,” O’Leary said years ago in an SZ interview. “Any company that pursues an environmental strategy, people ripped only.”

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