Inquiry into Ryanair over withholding compensation
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Inquiry into Ryanair over withholding compensation
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspap...723085,00.html
THE Civil Aviation Authority is to investigate whether Ryanair is flouting new European laws that require airlines to compensate customers for cancelled or delayed flights.
The CAA is acting after the Air Transport Users’ Group passed on several complaints against Europe’s biggest budget airlines to the industry, and it expects complaints to soar over the holiday period.
A spokesman for the CAA confirmed that it had begun examining Ryanair’s application of the new rules in a number of cases. The authority has the power to fine Ryanair £5,000 for each breach of the European law.
Under the rules, introduced in February, airlines must offer meals and free phone calls for flights delayed by more than two hours. If the delay continues overnight, customers are entitled to accommodation.
Evidence is accumulating that Ryanair is ignoring the new rules while it challenges the legislation in the courts.
Michael Cawley, deputy chief executive of Ryanair, was unable to say how many passengers had been compensated under the scheme and admitted that his company was in no hurry to make payments to passengers. “Only when the case is proven will we pay; a lot of them aren’t,” Mr Cawley said. He added that only about one Ryanair aircraft a month suffered an overnight delay.
Passengers who have suffered delays with Ryanair have received a piece of paper setting out its approach to the new rules. The notice makes it clear that compensation will be difficult to claim and says that the legislation is “illogical and unjust” and “discriminatory” because it does not apply to other forms of transport.
The airline has said that, pending the outcome of its legal challenge, it will compensate reasonable hotel costs incurred through a cancellation or flight delay and asks passengers to submit receipts. Common practice in the airline industry is for an airline to find hotel space for customers who are stranded overnight.
In direct contravention of the new laws, the notice also says: “Ryanair will not provide compensation for meals, etc, as our services do not include free meals/snacks on board and nor do our low air fares.” Airlines typically pay about $25 (£14) to long-haul passengers delayed for more than two hours.
DELAYED? THIS IS YOUR ENTITLEMENT
Free meals, refreshments, two free phone calls and hotel accommodation if delay continues overnight
Assistance comes into effect after two hours for flights of 1,500km or less, after three hours for flights of 1,500 to 3,000km, and after four hours for flights further than 3,500km
THE Civil Aviation Authority is to investigate whether Ryanair is flouting new European laws that require airlines to compensate customers for cancelled or delayed flights.
The CAA is acting after the Air Transport Users’ Group passed on several complaints against Europe’s biggest budget airlines to the industry, and it expects complaints to soar over the holiday period.
A spokesman for the CAA confirmed that it had begun examining Ryanair’s application of the new rules in a number of cases. The authority has the power to fine Ryanair £5,000 for each breach of the European law.
Under the rules, introduced in February, airlines must offer meals and free phone calls for flights delayed by more than two hours. If the delay continues overnight, customers are entitled to accommodation.
Evidence is accumulating that Ryanair is ignoring the new rules while it challenges the legislation in the courts.
Michael Cawley, deputy chief executive of Ryanair, was unable to say how many passengers had been compensated under the scheme and admitted that his company was in no hurry to make payments to passengers. “Only when the case is proven will we pay; a lot of them aren’t,” Mr Cawley said. He added that only about one Ryanair aircraft a month suffered an overnight delay.
Passengers who have suffered delays with Ryanair have received a piece of paper setting out its approach to the new rules. The notice makes it clear that compensation will be difficult to claim and says that the legislation is “illogical and unjust” and “discriminatory” because it does not apply to other forms of transport.
The airline has said that, pending the outcome of its legal challenge, it will compensate reasonable hotel costs incurred through a cancellation or flight delay and asks passengers to submit receipts. Common practice in the airline industry is for an airline to find hotel space for customers who are stranded overnight.
In direct contravention of the new laws, the notice also says: “Ryanair will not provide compensation for meals, etc, as our services do not include free meals/snacks on board and nor do our low air fares.” Airlines typically pay about $25 (£14) to long-haul passengers delayed for more than two hours.
DELAYED? THIS IS YOUR ENTITLEMENT
Free meals, refreshments, two free phone calls and hotel accommodation if delay continues overnight
Assistance comes into effect after two hours for flights of 1,500km or less, after three hours for flights of 1,500 to 3,000km, and after four hours for flights further than 3,500km
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Does Ryanair operate on a UK CAA AOC? If not, does the UK CAA have any jurisdiction in this case, or is this a matter for the Irish authorities?
If a pax wanted to mount a legal challenge, would they have to do so in an Irish court?
What if they were delayed in France, for example. Woud they have to seek recompense in a French court?
I thought Ryaniar cancelled flights, not delayed them. In this case, presumably all you're entitled to is your fare back, e.g. £1 or whatever you paid...
The Odd One
If a pax wanted to mount a legal challenge, would they have to do so in an Irish court?
What if they were delayed in France, for example. Woud they have to seek recompense in a French court?
I thought Ryaniar cancelled flights, not delayed them. In this case, presumably all you're entitled to is your fare back, e.g. £1 or whatever you paid...
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They can make all the enquiries they like - you kind of know what Michael O'Leary's response would be!!!!
For once, I am in total agreement with MoL - why should you get refreshments when RYR fares don't include meals? Why should compensation be paid to someone who has paid virtually nothing for a ticket?
For once, I am in total agreement with MoL - why should you get refreshments when RYR fares don't include meals? Why should compensation be paid to someone who has paid virtually nothing for a ticket?
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For once, I am in total agreement with MoL - why should you get refreshments when RYR fares don't include meals?
I thought Ryaniar cancelled flights, not delayed them. In this case, presumably all you're entitled to is your fare back, e.g. £1 or whatever you paid...
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Because that is what the law says
If the government wants to pay compensation so badly, why don't they get it from the exceedingly high taxes they extort from airline passengers?
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1 - the law may be an ass, but it is still the law. I waited on one of your airline's 777s for nearly 7 hours a couple of weeks ago, because the law (MEL) said we should not depart, even though the captain explained that he could navigate easily to the destination without the malfunctioning FMC unit. Using the same logic, would you expect your captain to disregard the law and just do it anyway? Of course not, because a civilised society is the product of people obeying the laws - end of story.
2 - the compensation rules are an EU directive, not driven by the UK government
2 - the compensation rules are an EU directive, not driven by the UK government
Too mean to buy a long personal title
bealine: For once, I am in total agreement with MoL - why should you get refreshments when RYR fares don't include meals? Why should compensation be paid to someone who has paid virtually nothing for a ticket?
It's not the only way of looking at it, but this is a perfectly respectable choice for the legislators to make.
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How is it that an airline (in this case Ryanair) are able operate outside of the jurisdiction of the UK as sugested above but have the majority of their operations originating from within the UK?.
Or have I misunderstood?
Or have I misunderstood?
