Low-cost airline Ryanair has agreed to compensate the more than 33,000 passengers that were affected by the cancellation or delay of 172 Belgian Ryanair flights in the summer of 2018.
Three years ago, various strike actions at Charleroi and Zaventem airport affected thousands of passengers. Consumer rights association Test Achats filed a class action to obtain compensation for the losses suffered by the passengers and had been negotiating with the Irish airline, which was unsuccessful until now.
"We are delighted with the agreement reached with Ryanair, which will enable all passengers affected by the delays and cancellations in summer 2018 to be compensated more quickly than if we had had to sit through the entire legal process," said Simon November, spokesperson for Test Achats.
The association first filed its legal action on 11 July 2019. The court ruled the case admissible in December 2020, however, the company started negotiations with Test Achats alongside this case, which have now resulted in a favourable agreement for the affected passengers outside of the legal framework.
Up to €13 million in compensations
All passengers who experienced issues with delayed or cancelled flights as a result of strike actions during the summer of 2018 will receive a voucher of a value between €250 and €400 (depending on the distance of their cancelled or delayed flight) that can be exchanged for cash if it has not been used after one year.
If all affected passengers request such a voucher so, the compensation will cost Ryanair between €8 and 13 million.
Acceptable additional costs ("re-routing", hotel accommodation, taxi fares and other costs directly related to cancellations or delays) will also be reimbursed, either directly from Ryanair or through Test Achats, which will see this total amount further increase.
The company is expected to send all affected passengers an e-mail before the end of the year with which they can request the voucher.
