Irish Sunday Mirror

RYANAIR MIGHT PAY OUT AXED FLIGHTS COMPO

Firm scraps 50 services to let staff go on hols

- BY CORMAC O’SHEA

RYANAIR passengers could be due compensati­on after the airline cancelled up to 50 flights a day for the next six weeks.

The airline announced on Friday it would be axing services to help staff catch up on their holidays.

Now the Commission for Aviation Regulation has stated customers could be due compensati­on.

It added: “If you have been affected by the Ryanair programme of flight cancellati­ons you are entitled to a choice of refund or rerouting.

“Compensati­on may also be payable depending on the notice period Ryanair has given you.”

The commission said the airline must give at least two weeks’ notice to avoid paying compensati­on.

Ryanair must also provide an alternativ­e flight at the earliest opportunit­y or at a later date of the passenger’s choice subject to availabili­ty of seats – or a full refund of the ticket.

The CAR website states: “If you have been given less than seven days’ notice you must be offered an alternativ­e flight departing no more than one hour before your original departure time and allowing arrival within two hours of the original scheduled time of arrival. Alternativ­ely you must be offered a full refund. “In terms of compensati­on, the amount varies depending on your flight distance.” The CAR statement added: “Compensati­on in the event of a cancellati­on depends on the distance of the flight and the reason for cancellati­on. “If an airline can prove the cancellati­on was caused by an extraordin­ary circumstan­ce which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures were taken no compensati­on is payable.” If the flight is 1,500km or less the

amount payable is €250, for 1,500km– 3500km and all EU flights over 3500km, the amount payable is €400, and for flights of 3,500km or more the amount payable is €600.

Ryanair has told passengers that if their flight has been cancelled they will be notified by email.

A spokesman said: “Flights are operating as scheduled unless an email confirming a cancellati­on has been received. We advise customers to check the email address used to make their booking.

“Cancellati­on notices for flights cancelled up to and including Wednesday September 20 have been sent to affected customers and we will continue to send regular updates.”

news@irishmirro­r.ie

250 The minimum amount of compensati­on in euro that may be available

 ??  ?? GROUNDED Flights hit over next six weeks
GROUNDED Flights hit over next six weeks

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