Covid-19 virus (flight cancellations and EU261 compensation)
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:14 am
Hi,
Like many others we have recently had our Ryanair flights to the UK cancelled due to Corona virus. We were initially under the impression that we would be able to claim the EU261 compensation (€400 per person) because the reason for the cancellations was purely financial. Ryanair didn't want to fly with too few passengers. Ryanairs strategy, to mitigate potential losses, is to reduce the number of flights, persuade people to change their flights and then to heavily increase the available flight prices. (profiteering)
We have since discovered from the CAA website https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/Newsroom/COVID-19/ that EU261 compensation is not available as this is considered "extraordinary circumstances".
"Cancellations due to the economic and environmental consequences of operating flights with only a few passengers on-board may also be considered to be an extraordinary circumstance.
Please note that If your flight is cancelled, you will always be due a refund and to be provided with assistance, even if you are not due further compensation."
Personally I find Ryanair's behaviour regarding flight price hikes abhorrent. I would've expected the airline to accommodate people on available flights at the price they initially paid.
I would suggest that affected passengers claim their refund and use skyscanner.net to find a suitable (cheaper) flight rather than rebooking with Ryanair. We managed to get return flights with Easyjet a week later for €24 each.
Like many others we have recently had our Ryanair flights to the UK cancelled due to Corona virus. We were initially under the impression that we would be able to claim the EU261 compensation (€400 per person) because the reason for the cancellations was purely financial. Ryanair didn't want to fly with too few passengers. Ryanairs strategy, to mitigate potential losses, is to reduce the number of flights, persuade people to change their flights and then to heavily increase the available flight prices. (profiteering)
We have since discovered from the CAA website https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/Newsroom/COVID-19/ that EU261 compensation is not available as this is considered "extraordinary circumstances".
"Cancellations due to the economic and environmental consequences of operating flights with only a few passengers on-board may also be considered to be an extraordinary circumstance.
Please note that If your flight is cancelled, you will always be due a refund and to be provided with assistance, even if you are not due further compensation."
Personally I find Ryanair's behaviour regarding flight price hikes abhorrent. I would've expected the airline to accommodate people on available flights at the price they initially paid.
I would suggest that affected passengers claim their refund and use skyscanner.net to find a suitable (cheaper) flight rather than rebooking with Ryanair. We managed to get return flights with Easyjet a week later for €24 each.