Ryanair loses compensation battle
10.11.06
Budget airline Ryanair has been forced to pay out more than £600 to four Scottish passengers who were left stranded in Poland after their flight was cancelled, the Herald newspaper reports. The challenge could open the way to claims from other passengers similarly affected.
The four passengers were stranded in Krakow in January, with around 300 others, when their flight to Prestwick was cancelled. After being told by airport staff that the next available flight was 10 days away, they had no choice but to make their own back at their own expense.
They paid £800 for an exhausting 16-hour journey, which involved a taxi to Krakow, a bus ride to Katowice, a taxi to the airport, a flight to Liverpool and finally, a car hire to Glasgow. They immediately sought compensation from Ryanair, but the airline was only willing to refund the cost of their original ticket - around £30.
The airline told them: 'As your flight disruption was outside the control of the airline we regret to inform you that no compensation is due.'
Finally, this week, the airline was ordered to comply with recent EU regulations, and pay both couples about £330 of the £400 they each spent. The airline would not pay 'compensation', but was obliged to offer 'reimbursement' of travel costs.
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