The Ryanair conflict: a private international law perspective

Abstract

The conflicts that faced the airline Ryanair and its workers -cabin crew and pilots- throughout 2018 have demonstrated the complexity of determining an effective place of work in this type of labor relations, raising doubts as well its governing law. Community case law does not provide an undoubted answer to these questions, and Spanish case law is not unanimous with regard to its own jurisdiction to resolve these disputes. Likewise, the practice of contracting the airline through temporary employment agencies has raised doubts about the legality of this contractual modality, which could con­ceal practices of illegal assignment of workers.