RYANAIR VS COMPENSATION LAW
Q.WHAT RULES ARE RYANAIR CHALLENGING?
A.Passengers flying within or into the European Economic Area can claim compensation if their flights are cancelled, and are also entitled to meals, two telephone calls and accommodation while awaiting a later flight. The rights also apply if a long-haul flight is delayed by more than four hours, or less for shorter journeys, under the EU regulation 261/2004.
Q.WHY DOES RYANAIR OBJECT TO THESE RULES?
A.The regulation places the cost or caring for stranded passengers with the airline, which Ryanair argues is unfair since the airport has more control over whether flights are delayed or cancelled.
Q.CAN RYANAIR SUCCEED IN CHALLENGING THIS LAW?
A.EU-261 has been in force for seven years without any successful legal challenges, so it’s unlikely that Ryanair can persuade the EU to rip up the entire rulebook. In 2005, the European Court of Justice threw out a case brought by a group of low cost airlines including Ryanair that claimed the rules discriminated against budget carriers.