News
Ryanair to compensate volcano-stranded passengers
Jan. 31, 2013, Brussels, Bel. - The European Union's top court says that Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has to pay out compensation to passengers that were stranded because the 2010 volcano eruption in Iceland.
February 1, 2013 By Carey Fredericks
The European Court of Justice said Thursday that airlines face an obligation to provide care, even in such "extraordinary
circumstances'' as the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which left millions of passengers stranded because it was too dangerous to fly through the ash clouds.
The court gave its opinion after a one Irish passenger was stranded in southern Portugal for a week during the crisis and
demanded compensation of almost (euro)1,130 ($1,530.13).
Ryanair has said it paid out (euro)26.1 million to stranded passengers but it has refused many claims, citing their "excessive'' cost. The court said passengers can only claim "reasonable'' costs.
