Ryanair Cancelled More Than 1,000 Flights in September, Here’s What You’re Owed When Air Traffic Control Is to Blame

If Ryanair cancelled your flight in September because of air traffic control, you are very likely not owed cash compensation, but you are owed a choice of refund or rerouting and, while you wait, meals and a hotel. Ryanair reported more than 1,000 cancellations last month, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s guidance on the 8 September air traffic failure draws the same line.

What caused the cancellations

Ryanair attributed the cancellations to two air traffic control problems within a fortnight, plus Belgian ATC strikes and volcanic ash from Mount Etna. The first was a software fault at the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) on 8 September. The second was a connectivity issue at the Prestwick centre in Scotland. Ryanair has joined calls for the Nats chief executive, Martin Rolfe, to resign, and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has scheduled meetings with the Nats chairman. We covered the second failure in our piece on Britain’s flight control failing twice in 13 days.

Why you probably will not get compensation

The CAA said of the 8 September disruption that passengers are unlikely to be entitled to compensation, because air traffic control failures are likely to count as extraordinary circumstances. It added that this is guidance, not a legal ruling, and you can still try to claim or go to court if you disagree. Our rule of thumb: an airline’s own staff strike or fault can pay out, an outside body’s failure usually does not.

What the airline must still give you

Even when compensation is off the table, the CAA says airlines must offer the choice of a refund, rerouting at the earliest opportunity, or rerouting at a later date. They must also provide meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the delay. If they cannot arrange this, they should promptly reimburse the reasonable cost of your own arrangements. Keep every receipt. UK rules apply on any airline leaving a UK airport, and on EU or UK airlines arriving in the UK.

That is roughly one flight in 110. The odds are small, but over a 20-million-passenger month it still strands tens of thousands of people.

What to do if you are the one stranded

Ask for rerouting in writing, and ask about a flight on another airline if the next Ryanair seat is days away, since the CAA says other carriers may be offered where significantly faster. Book food and a hotel at a sensible price if the airline will not, and claim it back with receipts. A card paid flight can also give you a chargeback route if a refund is refused. If you booked travel insurance before the disruption, read the strike and air traffic clauses; see our guide to what airlines owe you when air traffic control fails.

Heading to Nepal this autumn? Our guides can adjust a first day when a flight slips. Ask us about a flexible start.

Cover photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Section photos: Grzegorz Lewandowski via Pexels (Pexels licence); Magda Ehlers via Pexels (Pexels licence); dongfang xiaowu via Pexels (Pexels licence); Chris F via Pexels (Pexels licence); Jake Ryan via Pexels (Pexels licence).