Ryanair faces fine over compo

RYANAIR could face tens of thousands of euro in fines if it refuses to compensate stranded passengers for costs incurred as a result of the volcano ash cloud crisis.

As large numbers of Irish passengers begin to make their way home after the flight ban was lifted, the Commission for Aviation Regulation has launched a stringent defence of customer rights.

Reacting to Ryanair claims that it will not pay for any expenses from stranded passengers exceeding the ticket sale price – in some cases as little as €1, commission representative Patricia Barton said the airline had no right to ignore existing EU law.

And in a clear warning to Ryanair chief executive Michael O Leary, she added the airline “could end up” facing criminal sanctions at Irish District Court level, leading to potential fines of €5,000 for each case taken by out-of-pocket passengers.

“Unfortunately, this is not a matter Ryanair or any other airline has the right to pick and choose on. It is the law, it is binding,” she said.

However, the airline chief defended his stance. “There’s no legislation designed that says any airline getting a fare of €30 should be reimbursing passengers many thousands of euro for hotel accommodation. It’s absurd,” he said.

Mr O’Leary said he will see Ireland’s Commission for Aviation Regulation in court.

Under EU regulation 261, article seven, passengers are entitled to be compensated for hotel, transport and subsistence costs, among others, if their flight is cancelled. If a passenger does not receive a satisfactory response they can appeal to the commission, which will make a ruling on the case.

Failure to comply will result in the case being taken initially to the District Court, where, if found guilty, an airline can be fined up to €5,000, with a higher fine if the case is appealed and won in the High Court.

Ryanair is the only airline to have said it will not meet the legal obligations, with a spokesperson saying the law did not relate to lengthy delays due to such issues as the ash cloud crisis.

News of the stand-off emerged as Irish passengers began to return home after the first day of major airline traffic over Europe’s skies in a week.

To widespread relief within the industry, and among would-be passengers stranded at home and abroad, airports began a “phased and gradual return” to normal service as volcanic ash exclusion zones were lifted.

Full schedules are not expected to return to normal for at least another three days, due to planes and crew attempting to reposition themselves to airports were flights are due to depart.

Meanwhile, overflights of Irish airspace are operating at 75% efficiency compared to the same date last year, with flights throughout Europe expected to run at 85% capacity today.

Over the past week more than 3,500 flights have been cancelled across Europe, affecting 400,000 passengers.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said it is now safe to fly in Irish airspace again, but it added it will be forced to re-instate the blanket ban on flights if conditions deteriorate in any way.

It has insisted there was no commercial pressure placed on it to allow flights from airlines losing millions of euro.