rejected resources
The national audience confirmed the penalties against Ryanair and upheld the sanctions. Three point zero four million euros were approved at a rate of nine thousand five hundred euros for each of the three hundred twenty flights canceled by the Aviation Safety Agency. The aviation watchdog flagged failures in how the airline treated passengers during the disruptions, including obligations under European rules to provide care such as food and drink, hotel accommodation, or transport to a suitable location. This summary of the ruling reflects the agency’s findings and the court’s alignment with those findings.
The Supreme Court later ruled that Ryanair’s challenge to an earlier decision was inadmissible. As a result, the high court sustained sanctions issued by the Aviation Safety Agency for additional flights, confirming a further two point five six million euros in penalties, allocated at eight thousand euros for each of the three hundred twenty affected flights. The core issue remains the obligation to reimburse ticket costs or to offer appropriate alternative transport to passengers affected by cancellations. The court noted that the article compensation or replacement travel must be provided at no extra cost to the passenger and without requiring the passenger to bear the expense of alternatives.
passenger rights
Ryanair faced large scale flight cancellations linked to staff strikes during the summers of 2017 and 2018, straining relations with the Spanish government and triggering proceedings in several jurisdictions. The Aviation Safety Agency has repeatedly advised passengers affected by Ryanair crew strikes to seek assistance and either reimbursement or alternative travel to their final destination. Inspectors were sent to major airports to ensure compliance with community rules on delays and cancellations. Such disruptions have historically led to compensation requirements for flight cancellations, typically ranging from two hundred fifty to six hundred euros based on the distance of the flight, unless the airline provides at least fifteen days notice of the cancellation.
Passengers are entitled to assistance from the airline without advance payment by the passenger and without delays in processing. When a cancellation occurs, passengers may choose to receive a refund or be provided with alternative transportation to the final destination as soon as possible. If the latter option is chosen, the airline is expected to secure the fastest viable route and arrange seats on both its own services and other carriers if necessary. The airline bears the cost of any required alternative transportation and cannot pass those charges onto the passenger. The overall enforcement actions underscore the emphasis on protecting passenger rights during disruptions and ensuring timely resolutions with adequate support from the airline involved.