Ryanair to Challenge European Union Compensation Rules
Sharon MillerApparently the Ryanair boss, Michael O’Leary, is challenging the European Union’s compensation regime for airline passengers. He is doing this by refusing to pay “ludicrous” claims from holidaymakers resulting from the volcanic ash crisis.
Mr O’Leary said he would be willing to sue national governments for compensation over the closure of European airspace during the Icelandic eruption. This news comes forth after easyJet revealed airlines were in talks about taking a class action.
He went on to say that the European Union’s guidelines require carriers to shoulder the food and accommodation costs of stranded passengers. A lot of these stranded passengers have become a lot of cheaters.
Ryanair initially refused to pay the compensation claims of the estimated 300,000 passengers caught in temporary exile when European airspace was shutdown for six days in April. However, the carrier did change its mind after a public outcry.
Mr O’Leary said that the airline would attempt to force changes in the regulations by rejecting up to 20 of the most expensive claims. He said that they will take on 10 to 20 of the most ludicrous claims. He said they have claims coming from people who paid €30 for a ticket and are seeking €3,000 from the airline. He said that they will take a few of these test cases on.
One such example was given where an Irish passenger had paid €34 to travel to the Canary Islands and was demanding €2,900. Apparently he wanted this money to cover the food and accommodations that he had to pay for. Some experts are now saying that it seems that some passengers are attempting to bend the rules in order to benefit themselves.
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Filed under Business & Finance, Travel News, UK News