No passenger compensation for Ryanair strikes, court rules
Ryanair welcomed a decision from the Swords District Court in Dublin on Wednesday, in which the court confirmed that no compensation was due to customers under EU Flight Compensation Regulation 261/2004 (EU261) for delays and cancellations because of internal strike action in the airline last year.
The court said such strikes were beyond the airline’s control.
Ryanair said it “fully complies” with all EU261 legislation, and re-accommodated or refunded all customers affected by the of strike delays and cancellations, as well as provided “full assistance” to customers where needed, including accommodation, meals and rerouting.
However, as the cancellations were beyond Ryanair’s control, it said no EU261 compensation payments were due, as confirmed by the Swords District Court ruling.
“We welcome this ruling by Swords District Court confirming that no compensation is payable to customers when the strike delay or cancellation is beyond the airline’s control,” said Kenny Jacobs of Ryanair.
“If these strikes, by a tiny minority of Ryanair crew, were within Ryanair’s control, there would be no strikes and no delays or cancellations.”
Jacobs noted that the ruling followed similar court decisions in Barcelona, Badajoz, Orense and Pontevedra in Spain.
“Ryanair fully complies with all EU261 legislation and processes all valid EU261 claims within an industry leading 10 days.”