Ryanair will appeal to judges in Haarlem on Thursday afternoon in a last-ditch effort to avert a 24-hour strike called by pilots working for the Irish budget carrier in the Netherlands.

The Dutch pilots union VNV said it was the first time in Europe that an airline had gone to court to prevent industrial action, the Financieele Dagblad reported.

If the Dutch airport strike on Friday goes ahead, Dutch Ryanair pilots will join those in Germany, Ireland, Belgium and Sweden in striking all day. Ryanair will then be forced to cancel 400 of its 2,400 planned flights that day.

The VNV said it has been negotating with Ryanair over a pay-and-conditions agreement for eight months without making any progress. If the strike goes ahead, it will hit mainly passengers travelling from Eindhoven.

Last month cabin crew on Ryanair flights serving Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Italy downed tools.