Ryanair Puts Levy on All Flight Prices
March 31st, 2011
Low-cost airline Ryanair is to apply a €2 levy on every flight to cover the cost of EU laws requiring it to compensate passengers whose flights have been disrupted.
The charge will increase the price of an average return flight with Ryanair by over 11%, from €34 to €38.
The airline says the levy is to cover the cost of European laws which oblige airlines to look after and compensate passengers whose flights are delayed or cancelled.
Ryanair said flight disruption cost it almost £88m last year, with the majority of passenger claims arising from bad weather, air traffic control strikes and the volcanic ash cloud.
The company believes that the regulations place an unfair burden on airlines, and should be changed.
Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: “While we regret the imposition of this €2 EU261 levy, the extraordinary costs which have been imposed on us by delays and cancellations under these discriminatory regulations must be recovered from passengers.”
“It’s a crazy situation that travel insurance companies paid out nothing during the volcanic ash crisis last year – because it was an “Act of God” – yet the airlines were forced to pick up weeks of delays, cancellations, hotel and restaurant costs.”
The levy comes into force on all bookings made from April 4 according to news.sky.com
