Watchdog ‘furious’ over Ryanair cancellations

● CAA threatens court action and warns firm could be breaking law

Ryanair has been accused by the UK’S aviation regulator of “not complying with the law” over its handling of flight cancellations.

Andrew Haines, chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said he was “furious” with the Dublinbased carrier.

The CAA is threatening to take Ryanair to court because it is not telling passengers they are entitled to be re-routed by other airlines.

It is believed to be the first time the regulator has issued such a warning to a major airline over the issue in recent years.

“They are not making it clear to people their entitlement,” Mr Haines told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“If they follow through on what they are saying, then they would be breaking the law.”

A Ryanair spokesman said:

0 Ryanair chief executive Michael O’leary is accused of not making it clear to passengers they are entitled to be re-routed “We will be meeting with the CAA and will comply fully with whatever requirements they ask us to.”

On Wednesday the airline cancelled an extra 18,000 flights for the winter season in a move that will hit 400,000 customers.

This includes several popular routes used by British travellers, such as Stansted to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Gatwick to Belfast, Newcastle to Faro, and Glasgow to Las Palmas.

It adds to mounting anger against Ryanair, which was already coming under heavy fire after cancelling up to 50 flights a day earlier this month.

Ryanair says the cancellations were brought about because of an error with pilot holiday rosters.

Passengers have expressed their frustration with the airline, with many left out of pocket due to a lack of alternative flights and accommodation bookings they can no longer use.

Mr Haines said airline passengers are “well-protected by the law”.

He went on: “They are entitled to compensation and if there is a cancellation, they are entitled to be re-routed by other airlines.

“The chief executive of Ryanair (Michael O’leary) has gone on record and said he is not going to do that. He then issued a clarification.

“But yesterday when they announced 18,000 further cancellations, they failed to follow through on that.

“We are furious they are not complying with the law.”

The CAA is launching enforcement action against Ryanair for failing to give customers accurate information about their rights.

The regulator asked for a meeting with the airline as part of a consultation that will last at least seven days and could take legal action for breaching consumer protection laws.