Ryanair has invited pilot unions across Europe for talks on their recognition, the Irish no-frills airline said Friday as it faced strike action in Italy ahead of planned walkouts elsewhere.

"Christmas flights are very important to our customers and we wish to remove any worry or concern that they may be disrupted by pilot industrial action," Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said in a statement announcing the conditional offer to pilot unions in Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal.