A pilots’ union has described Ryanair’s decision to close bases and reduce its fleet from early next month as a declaration of war.

Ryanair may have created a key moment in its history by officially recognising a pilot union here for collective bargaining purposes as of yesterday, but the airline will still endure a strike today by its pilots in Germany.

A German court has today issued an injunction ordering a halt to a strike by pilots at Lufthansa, the country’s biggest airline.

Lufthansa pilots began the first of two days of strike action yesterday in a long-running dispute over early retirement benefits and cost-cutting plans which shows no sign of ending.

Lufthansa said it is seeking to avert another pilots’ strike after the union representing the cockpit staff broke off negotiations about retirement benefits last week.