Pilots Reject BALPA

Ryanair Holdings PLC
19 October 2001


              RYANAIR'S PILOTS OVERWHELMINGLY REJECT BALPA 
                          RECOGNITION BALLOT

Ryanair (Europe's largest low fares airline) and BALPA (British Airline
Pilots Association) were formally notified by the Central Arbitration
Committee that the secret postal ballot carried out by the Electoral Reform
Service in the UK on the question of recognition for BALPA had been
overwhelmingly rejected by Ryanair's UK pilots. The Electoral Reform Service
confirmed that just 18.8% of Ryanair's pilots in the UK voted in favour of
recognition for BALPA.

As a result of this vote, over 80% of Ryanair's pilots have confirmed that
they do not wish to be represented by BALPA, and prefer to continue to
negotiate directly with Ryanair. In accordance with the legislation BALPA
cannot now reapply for recognition within Ryanair for a minimum period of
three years.

Since BALPA were recently granted recognition in Easyjet, Ryanair is now the
only UK airline where the pilots (having voted in secret ballot) have rejected
union recognition.

Ryanair is to date the only European airline which confirmed since 11th
September last that there will be no job losses, there will be no pay cuts,
and the airline is continuing to recruit and to promote pilots in order to
deliver Ryanair's projected growth of 25% for 2002, and to meet the huge
demand that exists across traffic in Europe for Ryanair's low fares.



ENDS.