In a memo circulated to all staff, Ryanair has also fired a warning shot over other employees who might be considering taking grievances to the courts.

The memo states that "staff travel privileges will no longer be extended to any staff members who are involved in any litigation against Ryanair - for the duration of those legal proceedings". This exclusion "applies to any proceedings launched against Ryanair from 1 April onwards".

Staff travel is a "discretionary benefit", the memo says, "and we are not prepared to extend these benefits to any of our employees who are involved in litigation against the airline". It adds that privileges will be returned "once the relevant legal proceedings have been concluded".

Ryanair declined to comment on the travel decision.

On the decision of Judge Laffoy, a spokeswoman said: "We respect all court decisions and look forward to an early hearing on this matter which the unions have repeatedly tried to delay."

The airline had asked the High Court to strike out the case brought by the pilots and the Impact union, arguing that it was the airline's view that trade union representation was an "inefficient way" to run its business, and that an employer was under no legal obligation to engage in collective bargaining. The judge rejected its claim that the pilots had no reasonable cause of action.