UK-based Ryanair pilots are holding a 48-hour strike over pay.

The Irish airline says it does not expect significant disruption as pilots strike there on Thursday and Friday.

The carrier is planning to run a full schedule - but says it cannot rule out some small delays or flight changes.

The company says: "We do not expect significant disruptions on Thurs or Friday, however we cannot rule out some small flight delays and/or flight changes.

"We are working hard with our pilot teams to minimise any such delays for our customers and their families.

"All passengers scheduled to travel on flights to/from UK airports on Thurs 22nd & Fri 23rd Aug should arrive at their departure airport as normal and they can expect their scheduled Ryanair flight to depart on time."

It lost a British legal challenge to block the action by the BALPA union on Wednesday.

Ryanair has called on the BALPA union to return to mediation.

While BALPA claims Ryanair rejected "an olive branch" to move forward.

A Ryanair flight lands at Manchester Airport in England | Image: Dave Thompson/PA Archive/PA Images

The union says it offered a framework to allow constructive negotiations to take place which, if agreed by Ryanair, would avoid the need for strikes.

BALPA General-Secretary Brian Strutton says: "Ryanair foolishly tried to stop our strike in the High Court today and failed.

"Despite that, we extended an olive branch to Ryanair as a way of getting back around the table and calling off strikes over the next two days.

"We are extremely disappointed that Ryanair have taken such a belligerent and negative stance.

"We have become used to their macho posturing, but sadly it is their passengers who will pay the price for Ryanair's attitude."

While the High Court here opted to grant an injunction - which stopped Irish-based pilots who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) from downing tools.

It granted the airline's application for an injunction to stop the planned strikes by 180 Dublin-based pilots.

The judge highlighted "gaps in the evidence" that enough members of the union were notified of the chance to take part in a secret ballot on industrial action.

The order will remain in place until a full hearing on the matter can take place.

Fórsa confirmed the Irish strikes would not go ahead.

The union said in a statement: "Fórsa is grateful to Justice McDonald and the staff of the Court Service for the expeditious way they have dealt with this case.

"Once the union has the ruling in writing, we will consider it in detail and consult with our legal team. Only then will Fórsa be in a position to consider its next steps."