Low-cost airline Ryanair has been told it must compensate customers who lost out when their flights were cancelled due to strike action.
The High Court ruled that the thousands of passengers affected by cancellations or delays during strike action by pilots and cabin crew in 2018 should be compensated.
The Civil Aviation Authority took legal action after Ryanair refused to pay compensation. The airline claimed that “extraordinary circumstances” applied, so it did not have to pay.
Paul Smith, Director of the CAA, said: “We believed that these passengers were in fact protected by law and that Ryanair could not claim its delayed and cancelled flights were ‘extraordinary circumstances’. The High Court has today agreed with our interpretation of the law.
“We are committed to protecting the rights of air passengers and are determined to ensure all airlines comply with their legal obligations.”
Ryanair does, however, have the right to seek to appeal against the judgment.
The CAA advised that affected customers should wait for further information before pursuing their claims.
