Belgian pilots overwhelmingly back Ryanair pay and conditions deal

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian pilots have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a deal with Ryanair on pay and rosters, the Belgian cockpit association (BeCA) said on Friday.

The BeCA said that 98.5 percent of those participating in a secret ballot had voted in favour of the deal that the association said guaranteed stability for pilots for the next four years and harmonised working conditions and pay for all pilots based in Belgium.

Belgian cabin crew and pilots had reached a preliminary deal in October.

"However, it is not all over. It is now up to Ryanair to establish an appropriate local management structure that will guarantee the quick implementation of these commitments," BeCa said in a statement.

Ryanair suffered a number of strikes last year by cabin crew and pilots, forcing it to cancel hundreds of flights, after the airline recognised unions for the first time in 2017.

The Irish low-cost carrier has sought to reach agreements with unions in a series of countries across Europe.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)