Three pilots who were found not to have defamed Ryanair in an email circular have urged the Court of Appeal to uphold a High Court jury’s decision in the case.

Ryanair has issued defamation proceedings against the pilot who spoke about the safety of the airline on Channel 4’s Dispatches programme.

The Ryanair pilot sacked just days after he took part in a Channel 4 programme criticising the airline is to “seek legal advice on his options”.

Ryanair has announced average pay increases of 10% for all its cabin crew as well as increases of up to 10% for a number of its pilots, including those based in Cork and Shannon.