MORE RYANAIR WOE

New wave of cancellations hits low-cost operator's customers

AROUND 400,000 passengers had their flights cancelled this week as budget airline Ryanair announced that it is flying 25 fewer aircraft this winter.

This new disruption to customers’ plans has been caused by flight and schedule changes from November to March.

The airline announced on Wednesday: “Every one of these customers has received an email today giving them between five weeks to five months’ notice of these schedule changes, offering them alternative flights or full refunds of their airfare.”

They have also received a €40 (€80 return) travel voucher which will allow them to book a flight on any Ryanair service between October and March.

Ryanair said that 34 routes have been ‘suspended’ for the winter season, with none of these to or from Spain.

A spokesman added that ‘some’ other routes have had schedule changes and ‘customers have been offered alternative flights on their chosen route or a full refund’.

However, no information was offered to the media on which flights have been affected in this manner.

The new wave of cancellations comes after tens of thousands of passengers were hit by the withdrawal of 2,100 flights in September and October.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: “We sincerely apologise to those customers who have been affected by last week’s flight cancellations, or these sensible schedule changes announced today.”

The airline stated that ‘by reducing its flying schedule in this controlled manner Ryanair will eliminate all risk of further flight cancellations because slower growth creates lots of spare aircraft and crews across Ryanair’s 86 bases this winter’.

Turn to page 18 for more reactions to the first wave of Ryanair cancellations.