A discount airline that racked up a reputation for poor service and denied compensation has been forced to re-examine 25,000 denied claims and pay out £1.2 million to passengers who should have been paid in the first place.
Pressure from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority forced Wizz Air, based in Hungary, to take the action, which resulted in money for about 6,000 passengers who had been denied payment for flights and expenses they booked when Wizz’s flight disruptions left them stranded.
Under EU and UK rules, airlines which cancel flights are required to cover the cost of replacement flights, enabling a traveller to reach their destination if an airline cancels a flight and cannot provide an alternative in a timely manner.
Wizz, which was the worst airline for UK flight delays in 2021 and 2022, says it has improved its operation to better that record and claims that its updated systems will do a better job on compensation.
