Ryanair backs down on passenger compensation
Ryanair has been forced into a humiliating U-turn after initially refusing to pay out compensation to passengers caught up in the volcanic ash saga and forced to cover additional hotel and food costs. Despite the existence of apparently clear EU regulations regarding the payment of compensation, from airlines, to their passengers in such circumstances, Ryanair had initially refused point blank to discuss the subject. However, over the last 48 hours there has been a sea change in the company's mood and the company's response.
Key to the initial refusal to cover compensation by the likes of Ryanair was the very fact that the lockdown of European and UK airspace was taken out of the hands of the airline companies. British Airways has also been very vocal in its dismay at the move and confirmed it will be looking for compensation from the European Union and the UK government. Whether this compensation, for loss of earnings and additional costs, will be forthcoming remains to be seen but there is certainly a battle royal on the horizon.
Even though the UK government and the European Union have been criticised for their response to the volcanic ash situation, in many ways they have attempted to return stranded travellers to their homelands as quickly as possible. This has not been an everyday situation but on the whole the authorities seem to have done as much as they could in very difficult and very challenging circumstances.
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