Ryanair ordered to pay compensation for strike
OCU calls for the budget airline to pay up now
SPAIN’S leading private consumer association ‘Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios’ (OCU) has published a press release on its website informing members that they will receive compensation from Ryanair for delays and cancellations caused by strikes in 2018.
In the summer of that year, following recurring strikes by airline staff that ruined the trips and holidays of thousands of users – and ‘in view of the company's refusal to compensate those affected by the delays and cancellations’ caused by the stoppages – the OCU initiated legal action against Ryanair, demanding that the Irish airline comply with the regulations and compensate travellers.
After several unsuccessful attempts at mediation and mutual agreements with Ryanair, in July 2020 OCU took the airline to court, representing the interests of 155 of its members.
The action was for all affected parties who joined their legal action for the corresponding legal compensation, as well as compensation for the material and moral damages caused by the hundreds of flights cancelled in July, August and September 2018.
Now, five years later, the Commercial Court number 1 of Madrid has ruled in favour of those who joined OCU's lawsuit, recognising their right to receive the corresponding legal compensation plus interest for late payment. The court estimates an amount of more than €125,000, plus interest.
This means that each of the OCU members who joined the lawsuit will receive around €800.
OCU state that they hoped the company would not delay the inevitable any longer and pay up to those affected by the strikes who have been waiting for more than five years to receive compensation.
Delays or cancellations due to strike
OCU advises that when a flight is cancelled or a long delay occurs, the contract is breached and users are entitled to compensation, which varies depending on the distance and destination.
However, if the passenger has been informed of the cancellation sufficiently in advance (more than 14 days in advance, or between seven and 14 days if you are not offered alternative transport to leave no more than two hours before the scheduled time and arrive at your destination less than four hours later than planned) or if it is proven that the incident was due to ‘exceptional circumstances’, you will only be entitled to a refund of the ticket price.
A strike such as those called by Ryanair workers during 2018, which were publically announced legal strikes, cannot be considered an 'extraordinary cause', and the companies, therefore, must compensate the affected passengers for the consequences, according to OCU.
If a flight is affected by a strike, they must compensate you, states OCU.
“If they don't, take it up with the company, and a consumer organisation like OCU can help,” they note.