Britain’s High Court, which is actually one level down from the top, has ordered Ryanair to pay compensation of €250 to €400 to passengers whose flights were canceled by a 2018 pilot strike against the airline.
Ryanair claimed that they did not have to pay compensation because the delayed and canceled flights were caused by ‘extraordinary circumstances,’ while the Civil Aviation Authority ruled that while strikes in the context of labor management relationships may be infrequent, but not extraordinary.
The ruling was made this week by the court, although the rules requiring compensation were part of European Union Regulation 261, which applied because at the time the UK was an EU member. There has not previously been a definitive ruling on the issue of strikes and ‘extraordinary circumstances.”
Although EU aviation regulations have carried over into UK law, pending any changes, the UK ruling will not set a precedent for the EU.
Customers who are in line for compensation under the ruling were told to await further instruction and possible delay, as Ryanair may appeal the ruling.
