Ryanair warns of job cuts in Germany if strikes persist

Ryanair warned Tuesday that it may slash jobs and close some bases in Germany if it is hit with more strikes, a day before a planned work stoppage for better pay and conditions.

"These threatened strikes can only damage Ryanair's business in Germany, and if they continue, will lead to base cuts and job cuts for both German pilots and cabin crew, particularly at some secondary German bases," sad the Irish no-frills airline's chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs in a statement.

Without naming the German sites under threat, Jacobs said they are already loss-making during the winter season and could suffer greater losses if strikes continued.

Condemning the Cockpit pilots union's call for a 24-hour walkout that is expected to involve 400 pilots and co-pilots in Germany, Jacobs also rejected the charge that the airline is underpaying its staff.

Lufthansa's subsidiary Eurowings pay pilots 30 percent less, he claimed.