Ryanair sends roses to thank union for strike call at rival

Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost airline, said Friday it sent 10 roses to the union representing cabin crew at its rival TAP Air Portugal to thank it for calling a strike during the summer holidays.

The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Attendants said Wednesday that staff at the state-owned flag carrier would walk off the job on 10 days between June 18 and July 29 to protest staff cuts on flights.

“Ryanair is starting to love the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Attendants which continues to raise uncertainties for TAP passengers during the high season,” the Irish-based airline said in a statement.

Ryanair said it sent leaders of the Portuguese union “10 roses in representation of the 10 strike days they have called to show out appreciation for boosting our sales.”

TAP wants to reduce one attendant per flight as part of cost-cutting measures imposed by the government on all state-owned firms.

The airline is slated to be privatised under the agreement reached between Lisbon and the European Union and the International Monetary Fund in exchange for a three-year 78-billion-euro (112-billion-dollar) bailout.