Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary rubbished labor union claims of poor working conditions at Europe's largest low-cost carrier on Wednesday, saying accusations of bullying and intimidation at the company are "fundamentally wrong."
The row over pay and conditions at the Irish airline follows a series of strikes over the summer months, with walkouts taking place in Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Speaking to CNBC's Willem Marx in London on Wednesday, O'Leary said claims Ryanair had been bullying trade unions in more than half a dozen countries across Europe were "complete rubbish."
On Wednesday, pilots and cabin crew at Ryanair in Germany started another full-day walkout to put pressure on management amid labor talks. The carrier was forced to cancel 150 flights out of 400 scheduled to fly to and from Germany because of the 24-hour strikes.
Affected passengers were set to be offered alternative flights, the airline said. In a statement,
Ryanair said that while Wednesday's strikes would damage the firm's business in Europe's largest economy, the impact of the walkout would be "limited."
In August, the airline struck a deal with Irish pilots and said it was hopeful over securing further deals over the coming weeks.
However, seven trade unions representing cabin crews in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands have since threatened to strike later this month — unless Ryanair promises to improve working conditions.
The unions warned it would be "the biggest strike action" the company had ever seen.
When asked whether there is problem with the management culture at Ryanair — and whether he was part of that problem — Ryanair's O'Leary replied: "No, the quotes are complete rubbish."
"We should move on because actually the claims you have been making here by your discussions with a couple of union officials are fundamentally wrong," he added.
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