End the f light misery

HOW can Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary be allowed to get away with it? Never a byword for customer care (to put it mildly), he has plumbed new depths with his mass cancellation of flights, designed to minimise compensation liabilities.

His callous decision has left families waiting up to nine days for a flight home, while many are hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

In a breathtakingly rapacious scam, Ryanair even charges stranded passengers 68p a minute to call its premium helpline – with at least one complaining she was forced to spend £25 waiting on hold.

After BA’s shabby treatment of tens of thousands caught by its computer meltdown in May, where is the regulator with the teeth to protect customers?

With the Civil Aviation Authority too busy overseeing safety, isn’t there a crying need for an air ombudsman to ensure swift justice for passengers treated like cattle? THIS paper has a high regard for Prince William, who seems decent and anxious to do good. But even by raising the question of drug legalisation, which has spread misery wherever it has been tried, he risks distressing millions who wish him well. If the monarchy is to remain a unifying force, he should steer clear of such a highly charged political debate. THEY uttered not a word in the Lords chamber all year. Yet between them 115 peers received a jaw- dropping £1.3million in expenses in 2016/17. That’s an average of more than £11,000 each, with the top claimant pocketing £48,772. Shouldn’t these titled Trappists be forced to explain publicly what value they gave taxpayers? Or has the cat got their tongues?