Budget airlines urged to help stranded customers
14.12.05
Passengers left stranded in airports for days by budget airlines should be offered better protection, an MP said today. Glasgow East MP David Marshall wants passengers to be given compensation to get them home or the offer of hotel accommodation, if flights are cancelled. He is calling on the Government to take more action so low-cost airlines don't get away with leaving people high and dry.
Over the last few months we have reported a number of occasions where passengers were left stranded foreign airports after a flight was scrapped. In a number of cases budget airline Ryanair cancelled flights and offered passengers a refund of as little as 10p or a seat on the next flight - up to five days later. Ryanair does not provide compensation or hotel accommodation in the event of cancellation and had no spare aircraft to lay on an emergency flight.
Mr Marshall thinks budget airlines such as the Dublin-based carrier, which flies from Prestwick Airport in Scotland, are in breach of EU laws. The MP wants to know what Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling, who is also Transport Secretary, is doing to ensure passengers get better protection.
Mr Marshall said: 'Low-cost carriers should be more responsible. Some of them simply do not care about their passengers. We have to do more to protect people. They may argue they charge low fares, but they are taking money off people for a service and customers expect to receive what they have been promised.'
'These airlines are flouting the rules on EU compensation policy. They should honour their obligations. The Government should be doing more to protect people.'
A Ryanair spokesman said: 'In cases where the problem is outwith our control we do not pay out compensation. However, if it is within our control we will compensate. We apologise for any cancellations and delays to passengers. Where appropriate we will pay accommodation and food and drink costs.'
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