Are you one of the fifty thousand passengers let down by Ryanair today? Ryanair has cancelled 400 flights across Europe as a result of pilot strikes. Flights from Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands have all been affected. Many passengers were not warned in advance. Some passengers travelling for special occasions such as weddings and important family events have arrived at the airport to find that they are not going to be able to attend the event.
Ryanair is one of the consistent offenders when it comes to delayed and cancelled flights. They are of course a budget airline however, the law requires that they take all reasonable measures to avoid delays and cancellations.
WHAT ARE YOU ENTITLED TO:
If the delay between the cancelled flight and a replacement flight is longer than three hours then you are entitled to:-
- Two free phone calls or emails
- Free meals and refreshments appropriate to the delay
- Free hotel accommodation and hotel transfers if an overnight stay is required.
You are entitled to be rerouted to your final destination at a later date convenient to you. This can include alternate flights and booking seats with other airlines. Alternatively, you are entitled to cancel the flight and obtain a full refund.
Compensation
Importantly, given that this strike is caused by the airlines own staff you are entitled to flight delay compensation in terms of Regulation 261/2004/EC. The compensation due depends on the length of the delay between the original flight and any rescheduled flight. It also depends on distance. You can find further details in the table below.
| FLIGHT | COMPENSATION DUE FOR DELAY OF MORE THAN 3 HOURS | CANCELLATION NOTICE WITH LESS THAN 7 DAYS NOTICE |
| Ireland to Scotland | 250 Euros | If new flight arrives more than 2 hours after original flight – 250 Euros. If new flight takes off more than 1 hour before original flight and arrives less than 2 hours after it – 125 Euros. |
| Germany to Scotland | 400 Euros | If new flight takes off more than 3 hours after original flight – 400 Euros. If new flight departs more than 1 hour before original flight and arrives less than 3 hours after it – 200 Euros. |
| Sweden to Scotland | 400 Euros | If new flight takes off more than 3 hours after original flight – 400 Euros. If new flight departs more than 1 hour before original flight and arrives less than 3 hours after it – 200 Euros. |
| Belgium to Scotland | 400 Euros | If new flight takes off more than 3 hours after original flight – 400 Euros. If new flight departs more than 1 hour before original flight and arrives less than 3 hours after it – 200 Euros. |
| Netherlands to Scotland | 400 Euros | If new flight takes off more than 3 hours after original flight – 400 Euros. If new flight departs more than 1 hour before original flight and arrives less than 3 hours after it – 200 Euros. |
Don’t allow the airline’s lack of preparations to spoil your trip and don’t allow them to fob you off with a defence of extraordinary circumstances. The Court have held that where the airlines staff strike this is not an extraordinary circumstance and they are due you compensation. We have a specialist team standing by to assist you with claiming the compensation. We are well experienced in standing up to large corporations such as airlines and will not allow them to get out of paying you what you deserve.
Further information on flight delay and cancelled flights can be found here. Should you wish our assistance Talk to Thompsons on 0800 089 1331.
Blog by Alan Calderwood, Solicitor
