Ryanair ‘saving millions’ in unclaimed compensation
Ryanair quit an aviation complaints body after being forced to pay more than £3.6m in handling fees and compensation last year.
The move could save the budget airline millions but may cause problems for passengers trying to claim money back for flight delays or cancellations.
Read more: Ryanair threatening to remove pilot perks over strikes
Data from Aviation ADR – the complaints body- shows more than 14,000 Ryanair complaints were made in the first 11 months of 2018.
The airline was made to pay more than £2.6m to passengers between October 2018 and the end of March this year, according to Which.
Ryanair also had to pay at least £75 for each complaint handled by Aviation ADR.
After the company cut ties with Aviation ADR in November last year, only 553 passengers pursued claims through the Civil Aviation Authorityin the following four months.
“The broken aviation complaints system favours the interests of airlines over passengers – allowing them to wriggle out of paying compensation and putting many people off claiming at all,” Rory Boland, Which travel editor, said.
“The uphill struggle that many have faced trying to claim the compensation they are owed has left thousands of holidaymakers significantly out of pocket for delayed and cancelled flights.
Read more: Ryanair boss says package holiday industry is over
“It demonstrates why all airlines must be made to sign up to a single resolution scheme with real power to ensure passengers are treated fairly and money is paid out where it’s due.”
Morning Wire has contacted Ryanair for comment.