Ryanair, which has seen a wave of strikes in recent weeks over pay and conditions for cabin crew and pilots—and faces more—is refusing to pay compensation to the 50,000 passengers whose flights were cancelled as a result last week.
Under EU law, passengers whose flights are cancelled, or delayed beyond a certain point, are entitled an alternate flight, possibly on another airline, or cash reimbursement ranging from €250 to €600, unless the cancellation was because of ‘force majeure.’ unanticipated conditions beyond the airline’s control, such as dangerous weather or terrorist attacks.
The airline is now claiming that ‘unreasonable’ strike action is also an excuse to deny compensation. On Wednesday and Thursday, a four-nation cabin crew strike affected the 50,000 passengers and 600 flights. The Belgian consumer protection organization Test-Achats is urging passengers to stake their claims by applying directly to Ryanair, as the law requires. The organization is preparing to back legal action for them.
