Ryanair was forced to cancel flights this week after French air traffic controllers went on strike.
On Monday November 20, air traffic controllers in France walked out over changes to their right to strike. Workers must now declare 48 hours before they plan to strike, which will help minimise disruption for airlines, with aviation bosses able to plan ahead.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary announced the budget airline had to cancel 160 flights affecting 28,000 passengers. The CEO of Ryanair said: “I am sad to report that in advance of ATC strikes, we’ve had to cancel 160 flights, that is the flights affecting about 28,000 of our passengers. They were cancelled on Saturday and Sunday. All passengers were notified of these cancellations and we’re making alternative accommodation to get these passengers to their destinations.
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"Another 100,000 passengers on about 600 Ryanair flights have had their flights badly delayed. We’re having to send aircrafts around France, from Spain to get to Europe, or from Belgium, the UK to get to Italy, are all having to fly around France, as is every airline in Europe.”
Meanwhile a Ryanair spokesperson said the strikes are "unacceptable".
A spokesperson added: “It is completely unacceptable that there have been 65 days of ATC strikes this year (13 times more than in all of 2022) which have caused the cancellation of thousands of flights at short notice, unfairly disrupting EU passengers’ travel plans.
"There is no excuse for EU passengers not flying to/from the affected member state to bear the burden of ATC strikes that are completely unrelated to them."
Thousands of Brits experienced flight cancellations at short notice due to the strike action. The disruption is considered an "extraordinary circumstance", as experts explain what compensation is available.
A spokesperson for Claims.co.uk said: “Delays and cancellations caused by air traffic control restrictions are considered an extraordinary circumstance’ and therefore do not qualify for compensation.
"The airline must provide you with additional services, depending on the length of your delay and waiting time. These additional services include free meals and refreshments, which you are entitled to when your flight is delayed by at least two hours. Passengers should also receive a free overnight accommodation and a transfer to and from the airport if the flight is shifted to the next day.”
The travel expert added: "If you have booked a package holiday and your flights are cancelled, you have the rights to either claim a full refund, a reroute of the trip destination and potentially compensation from the airline. If a travel operator needs to cancel a package holiday for any reason, they are required to notify you as soon as possible and without undue delay. This is to ensure that you have enough time to help you make alternative arrangements or seek refunds.
"If you are at the airport when the flight is cancelled, it is advised that you contact your travel company straight away to talk through your options.
"If the delay lasts more than five hours, but is not actually cancelled, you should also be able to choose not to travel and get a full refund on your ticket. If your flight cannot be rearranged, meaning your whole holiday must be cancelled, then the travel company must offer an alternative holiday if possible, or a refund of the full package price, not just the flight part.”
A spokesperson for Claims.co.uk added: “If you received less than 14 days’ notice of the cancellation, you can claim compensation. This can be awarded in pounds or euros depending on where your flight was due to depart from.”
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