FRANKFURT – Budget ******* Ryanair said Wednesday it is cancelling 400 of over 2,400 flights on Friday due to a ****** by pilots in Ireland, Sweden, Belgium and Germany at the height of the vacation travel season.

The ******* says 85 per cent of its Friday flights would operate and that affected customers would get email or text messages later on Wednesday. They would have the option of a ******, rebooking on the next flight or rerouting.

Officials said flights should return to normal Saturday.

German pilot representatives said at a news conference Wednesday at Frankfurt’s airport that they were joining the ****** action because they want pay and work conditions comparable to those at Ryanair’s competitors.

The company called the ****** “unjustified and unnecessary” given recent pay increases and “invitations to meet for meaning negotiations.” The ******* has been hit with strikes by flight attendants in Spain, Portugal and Belgium. Irish pilots have held four ****** days.

Ryanair built its low-cost business model without unions but said last year it would recognize them. Labor representatives are seeking collective bargaining agreements in the different countries.