THE SHAMING OF A BODGE IT AIRLINE
SHAMED airline Ryanair were forced to back down last night in their battle with regulators – promising all 750,000 passengers a full compensation package just 45 minutes before deadline.
The airline said they will ensure all travellers affected by recent flight cancellations are “fully aware of their rights and entitlements”.
They pledged to send a clarification email to customers outlining their rights and explaining how and when they will be booked on other flights.
The document explains that passengers can have a refund and be given a new flight on the same day or the next day.
If there is no Ryanair flight available, the airline will buy seats with rivals including easyJet, Norwegian Air, Jet2, Vueling and Aer Lingus.
If those options are not available, Ryanair will offer “comparable alternative transport” which may be a flight, train, bus or car hire, with costs assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Passengers can also claim cash back for hotels and food, as long as sums are reasonable and backed up by receipts.
Ryanair were forced to offer a full compensation package after the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority accused the Dublin-based carrier of “not complying with the law” in their handling of the fiasco.
The watchdogs, who have the action after their demands for better working conditions were ignored.
A spokesman said: “Management seem to be adopting a head in the sand attitude towards us.
“Shareholders should take action as soon as possible to protect their investments.”
The launch of a £9.99-a-seat Ryanair mega-sale also sparked fury among customers.
The advert, promising a great deal on a million seats on 900 routes until February, was sent out yesterday to customers – including many still reeling after their flights in the same period were axed.
Some said buying tickets would simply mean putting a “tenner down the drain”.
Experts have said that the cancellation crisis could be Ryanair’s “Ratner moment” – a reference to Gerald Ratner’s infamous description of one of the products made by his family jewellery firm as “total crap”.
Yesterday, the man himself said Ryanair is a “joke too far” and called for O’Leary to quit.
Ratner said: “I think he should resign like I did. Ryanair are not about to go the way of Ratners.”