Ryanair will offer an alternative flight or refund to passengers who had a flight scheduled for Monday or Tuesday at Charleroi airport and were unable to arrive at the boarding gate due to the strike by security personnel.
The decision was disclosed and welcomed on Tuesday evening by consumer association Test Achats, which had challenged the Irish low-cost airline to take action.
In the wake of the disruptions at Charleroi on Monday and Tuesday, Test Achats called on Ryanair, which operates most of the flights departing from Charleroi, asking what solutions the company planned to offer passengers. The association encouraged the airline to be pragmatic in doing so, even if it was not required by regulations to reimburse customers if their flights were not canceled.
According to a response Test Achats received on Tuesday afternoon from Ryanair, all those who had a ‘no show’ will receive an email cancelling their flight, which paves the way for booking an alternative flight or receiving a refund.
“Ryanair is acting as if the flights had been cancelled,” said Test Achats spokesperson Julie Frère, who welcomed this decision. By acting in this way, the Irish low-cost carrier is going beyond its legal obligation and the provisions of European law, she noted.
However, Test Achats warned that it will remain vigilant and make sure the commitment made by Ryanair is respected in practice.
