Courts uphold million-dollar sanctions imposed by Spain ryanair for violations in the treatment accorded to passengers due to mass flight cancellation in full in the summer of 2018 cabin crew strike It has been alleged that the low-cost airline has tried to cancel it by resorting to different lawsuits in recent years.
HE Supreme Court and National Court It approves the fines imposed by the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) affiliated to the Ministry of Transport, to the ‘low-cost’ giant company due to various violations of rights of passengers affected by 320 canceled flights at Spanish airports. In just two days due to the flight attendants’ job shutdown on 25 and 26 July 2018.
In total, the sanctions approved by the courts for these hundreds of violations amount to 5.6 million euros. In some cases, the approval is already final once the court has run out of jurisdiction for the airline when the Supreme Court penalty comes, and in others, the approval can still be appealed in a new process when the decision comes from the National Court.
rejected resources
This national audience It rejected an appeal by Ryanair and upheld the sanctions. 3.04 million € It was approved at the rate of 9,500 euros for each of the 320 flights canceled by AESA.
Violations in the company’s actions, as recognized by the aviation security agency, relate to the obligation set out by European legislation to provide assistance to affected passengers in certain situations (adequate food and drink, accommodation in a hotel or transport from the airport to the relevant location). accomodation).
HE Supreme CourtFor its part, it found the European low-cost giant’s appeal against an earlier Court decision inadmissible. Thus, the high court upheld the sanctions imposed by the Aviation Safety Agency for some, in a recent sentence. 2.56 million more euros (EUR 8,000 for each of the 320 violations).
In this case, the violations of the airline identified by the Government of Spain are linked to the obligation to refund the passenger the cost of the ticket or to offer suitable similar transportation alternatives to the customer affected by the cancellation of his flight.
passenger rights
Ryanair’s massive cancellation of flights due to staff strikes caused conflict with the Spanish Government both in the summer of 2017 and in the summer of 2018. One such incident resulted in a case being opened on Irish airlines due to flight suspension and both summer seasons.
“The State Aviation Safety Agency advises all passengers who may be affected by the cancellation of the Ryanair company crew strike are entitled to assistance and reimbursement or alternative transportation to their final destination.” sending inspectors to major airports to ensure that the airline complies with community regulation regarding delays and cancellations.
This Flight cancellations by the company’s own staff due to a strike are not uncommon.Therefore, airlines are obliged to pay compensation for flight cancellation (between 250 and 600 euros depending on the distance of the canceled flight) unless at least 15 days’ notice is given.
The passenger is also entitled to the assistance that the airline must pay, without asking the passenger to pay and then requesting it. In case of cancellation, the passenger can choose between returning the ticket or providing alternative transportation to the company’s final destination as soon as possible. If alternative transportation is preferred, the company should look for the fastest option and offer seats not only on its own flights, but also on other airlines’ flights. Alternative transportation is to the final destination and it is the airline’s responsibility to pay for it, so they cannot ask the passenger to pay for the transportation in question.