A Tale Of Two Airlines - Time To Re-Think The Compensation Regulations?

The dual crises experienced by Ryanair and Monarch airlines, largely unexpected by the general public, have highlighted glaring flaws in the aviation compensation system. Whilst at first glance the Monarch situation was known to the executives and management for a while as they struggled to seek a solution that would keep the airline flying. The sudden and unexpected walkout of Ryanair pilots was not; initially it was passed off by the Ryanair hierarchy with one explanation and then another, before settling on a "mix up with the holiday scheduling" as their final explanation.

What has been brought sharply into focus is the aviation industry's compensation system. On one hand Ryanair resisted complying with the law until publicly shamed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which followed on the back of a wave of angry complaints from the Ryanair passengers.

Ryanair is believed to have initially barred customers from claiming the compensation they were entitled to, by issuing refunds without informing passengers they could insist on requesting flights on other airlines. There are many passengers who accepted refunds who were unaware that Ryanair had deprived them of their legal entitlement to flights on alternative airlines. Some passengers are considering a legal remedy as they have been informed that as they since they have accepted the initial offer, they are not entitled to the new improved offer despite the fact that it would appear that Ryanair misled them with regard to their rights to full compensation, using a variety of techniques to obstruct their passengers.

On the other hand Monarch's more...