Ryanair apologises after charging Dublin surgeon to change booking

Ryanair has apologised to grieving Dublin surgeon Dr Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar after he was charged €188 to change his booking to get on the earliest flight to Birmingham on the morning of the fire that killed his family.

Dr Al Sattar's wife and three children were killed in a suspected arson attack on their home in Wood Hill, Leicester.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said that a letter has been sent sympathising with the consultant and over the airline’s handling of the booking change.

“I think you have to make exceptions in cases like that and we made an exception last night when we became aware of it,” Mr O’Leary said.

“We want to respond sensitively to these cases.”

Mr O’Leary said Dr Al Sattar had been refunded the extra charge and said that the booking change was handled according to the airline’s policy which staff are told to implement without exception or variation.