- Ruling by Commercial Court of Barcelona.
- Ryanair say they are NOT liable for EU261 compensation
Ryanair say they are NOT liable for EU261 compensation in the case of internal strikes due to a ruling by Commercial Court of Barcelona.
The Spanish regulatory authorities were among those who issued advice that Ryanair would be liable for compensation in the case of internal strike action. Ireland’s CAR and London’s CAA issued similar advice. A ruling in the case of TUIfly in April judged that the airline were liable for Eu261 compensation in the case of a wildcat strike.
Ryanairsays it has fully complies with all EU261 legislation and has re-accommodated or refunded all customers affected by the small number of strike cancellations, and provided full assistance to customers where needed, including accommodation, meals and rerouting.However, as these cancellations are beyond Ryanair’s control, no EU261 compensation payments are due, as confirmed by this Barcelona court ruling, the ninth such recent Spanish court ruling, following similar decisions in the Courts of Badajoz, Ourense and Pontevedra.We welcome this ruling by the Commercial Court of Barcelona confirming that no compensation is payable to customers when the (strike) delay/cancellation is beyond the airline’s control. If these strikes, by a tiny minority of Ryanair crew, were within Ryanair’s control, there would be no strikes and no cancellations.In recent years during which there were over 15 days of pilot and cabin crew strikes in Germany, Lufthansa was not required to pay EU261 compensation. Similarly, the London CAA should also explain why it took no EU261 action against BA during last year’s cabin crew strikes.”
