Ryanair loses case over compensation

RYANAIR passengers who suffered flight delays more than two years ago should resubmit their claims for compensation, after a UK court ruled that the airline was wrong to impose its own deadline for handling payout requests.

A European Union directive from 2004 gives passengers six years to lodge a claim for flight delays - but Ryanair had set its own two-year cut-off point in its terms and conditions.

A court in Manchester has ruled in favour of six claimants who successfully argued that the budget airline's rules fall foul of European law. Ryanair says a six-year limit is "unnecessary and unreasonable" and it will appeal against the decision.

The airline says 90% of passengers make a valid claim for compensation within two years of their flight being delayed, and there was "a tiny potential group of passengers who may wish to submit a claim between two and six years after the date of their flight delay".

It estimates that the ruling, if upheld, could cost it up to €5million. Lawyers say if Ryanair had won, it would have affected other passengers of airlines, which might also try imposing a two-year time limit.

Meanwhile, Jet2 and Wizz Air passengers could also stand a chance of having their compensation claims reassessed if they were initially rejected because of a technical fault on the plane.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has told Jet2 not to reject claims for disruption caused by technical faults. Wizz Air has also agreed not to do the same.