STRIKE OUT
Ryanair to REFUSE compensation for passengers caught in strikes claiming unions acted ‘unreasonably’
The carrier faces a face-off with the Civil Aviation Authority after vowing to stonewall complaints from trapped tourists
RYANAIR could REFUSE compensation for 100,000 holidaymakers caught in the strike chaos.
The firm risks a face-off with the Civil Aviation Authority after vowing to stonewall complaints from trapped tourists according to the .
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Under EU law, passengers are due £222 compo (€250) when short-haul flights are cancelled without two weeks’ notice.
Carriers can only get around this by claiming “extraordinary circumstances”.
Ryanair told The Times that it was not liable because unions were acting "unreasonably".
It now faces a battle with the CAA who say the strikes do not qualify as an “extraordinary circumstance” because it was within the airline’s control.
The budget airline has cancelled 600 flights across Europe as cabin crew go on strike and protest at airports around Europe.
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How to claim compensation
How much compensation can you get?
If travellers received less than seven days' notice of a cancellation of a short-haul flight, then you can claim 250 Euros (£220) per person.
For medium-haul its 400 Euros (£350) and for long-haul it's 600 Euros (£533).
The compensation they receive is dependent on the arrival time of the alternative flight they've been offered.
How to apply for compensation
If you do want to apply for compensation, then contact the airline directly.
Ryanair has on its website you need to fill-in.
Make sure you have all your details to hand, including your flight number and banks details you booked the flight with.
There's no need to use a claims management company as they will keep much of the compensation you are awarded.
The CAA slammed the Irish carrier a year ago after flight chaos caused by bungled pilot rotas.
Yesterday, a spokesperson from told Sun Online Travel: “The airline is legally obliged to pay compensation to passengers whose flights are cancelled with less than two weeks’ notice, unless it can prove that the cancellations were caused by what’s known as ‘extraordinary circumstances’.
"The recent strikes by French Air Traffic Controllers are considered to be ‘extraordinary’, as they are outside the airline’s control.
“However, the CAA has confirmed that strikes by Ryanair’s own employees are its responsibility and should be eligible for compensation."
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A spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “All customers affected by the cabin crew strikes in Belgium, Spain and Portugal were notified last Wednesday (July 18) and have been re-accommodated with a refund or reroute there have been no further disruptions in these countries and all scheduled flights are operating as normal.
Passengers took to Twitter to complain that many flights are being cancelled at the last minute – some when they are already waiting in the airport.
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Passenger Daniel Brown tweeted: “Why text at 6.55 to say an 8.45 flight is cancelled @ryanair?
“We're already at the airport, car dropped off and your schedulers will have known you were dropping these flights last night. I see you’re already claiming you don't need to pay compensation. #RyanairStrike”.
Others say they have been unable to get through to customer services for a refund.
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People have vented that they haven't been able to speak to customer services to get a refund or rebooking for their cancelled flight – despite Ryanair earlier stating that there would be more people working on customer services to cope with the demand.
The Ryanair cabin crew strike affects flights to Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium, with staff walking out over pay and working conditions.
Ryanair said that it had text messaged or emailed 50,000 customers to let them know their flights have been cancelled.
Europe's biggest budget carrier averted widespread strikes before Christmas 2017 by deciding to recognise trade unions for the first time in its 32-year history but has since struggled to reach agreement on terms in some countries.
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Sun Online Travel previously revealed that Ryanair has been branded "embarrassing" by customers over the latest wave of strikes.
Passengers may also be able to claim compensation for their flights if they are cancelled.
The airline announced earlier today and it will be cutting the amount of flights from Dublin and that 300 staff there are at risk of redundancy as a result of lower bookings due to the strikes.
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