Ryanair welcomes German and Italian court rulings confirming no EU261 compensation is due for internal strikes

Ryanair today (21 March) welcomed the rulings by the Cologne District Court in Germany and the Judge of Peace of Catania in Italy, confirming that no EU261 compensation was due to customers whose flights were delayed/cancelled because of internal strike action last year, as such strikes are beyond the airline’s control.

Ryanair fully complies with all EU261 legislation and has re-accommodated or refunded all customers affected by the small number of strike delays/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 these Court rulings.

Ryanair’s Kenny Jacobs said:

“We welcome these rulings by the Cologne District Court in Germany and the Judge of Peace of Catania in Italy 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 have been no strikes and no delays/cancellations.

These rulings follow similar court decisions in Dublin (last month), and in Barcelona, Badajoz, Orense and Pontevedra in Spain. Ryanair fully complies with all EU261 legislation and processes all valid EU261 claims within an industry leading 10 days.”