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Ryanair to cancel flights affecting 400,000 more passengers Ryanair may face legal action over flight cancellations
(about 5 hours later)
Ryanair has announced a second wave of flight cancellations affecting 400,000 customers due to its rostering “mess-up”, with pilots casting doubt on its vow that no more would follow. Ryanair is facing enforcement action from the Civil Aviation Authority for “persistently misleading passengers” about their rights, piling more woe on the no-frills carrier as it announced a second wave of flight cancellations that will affect 400,000 people.
The no-frills airline will scrap 18,000 flights on 34 routes between November and March and has emailed affected customers to offer a refund or an alternative flight. In a letter to the Dublin-based airline, the CAA said chief executive Michael O’Leary was wrong to tell passengers last week that it did not have to arrange new flights for them after an initial batch of cancellations were announced.
They will also receive a travel voucher for £40 one-way or £80 return that can be used to book a Ryanair flight for travel between October and March 2018. The airline regulator said Ryanair had further transgressed when it announced fresh disruption on Wednesday, by failing to tell passengers that they could be rerouted with other airlines if there was no suitable alternative on one of its own planes.
Affected routes include London Stansted to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Gatwick to Belfast, Newcastle to Faro, and Glasgow to Las Palmas. It added that Ryanair should correct any misleading statements and invited the airline to discuss the matter, warning that legal action could follow if it is found in breach of consumer protection laws.
The move means further woe for Ryanair passengers after the Dublin-based carrier announced plans earlier this month to cancel up to 50 flights a day until 31 October, citing a mess-up in how it schedules time off for pilots, affecting 315,000 customers. The CAA chief executive, Andrew Haines, said: “There are clear laws in place, which are intended to assist passengers in the event of a cancellation ... We have made this crystal clear to Ryanair, who are well aware of their legal obligations.”
At the time, Ryanair dismissed a Guardian report that the disruption might not be over, saying: “There will be no further cancellations as a result of this rostering failure.” The regulator issued the warning as the no-frills airline said it would scrap 18,000 flights on 34 routes between November and March and has emailed affected customers to offer a refund or an alternative flight.
Revealing the new wave of cancellations on Wednesday, the airline’s outspoken chief executive, Michael O’Leary, apologised to customers for the second time but defended the changes. “We sincerely apologise to those customers who have been affected by last week’s flight cancellations, or these sensible schedule changes announced today,” he said. They will also receive a travel voucher for £40 one-way or £80 return that can be used to book a Ryanair flight for travel between October and March 2018. Affected routes include London Stansted to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Gatwick to Belfast, Newcastle to Faro, and Glasgow to Las Palmas.
News of the fresh cancellations came a week after Ryanair announced plans earlier this month to cancel up to 50 flights a day until 31 October, citing a “mess-up” in how it schedules time off for pilots, affecting 315,000 customers. At the time, Ryanair dismissed a Guardian report that the disruption might not be over, saying: “There will be no further cancellations as a result of this rostering failure.”
Revealing the new wave of cancellations on Wednesday, the airline’s outspoken chief executive apologised to customers for the second time but defended the changes. O’Leary said: “We sincerely apologise to those customers who have been affected by last week’s flight cancellations, or these sensible schedule changes announced today.
“From today, there will be no more rostering-related flight cancellations this winter or in summer 2018. Slower growth this winter will create lots of spare aircraft and crews, which will allow us to manage the exceptional volumes of annual leave we committed to delivering in the nine months to December 2017. We will start a new 12-month leave period on 1 January 2018 in full compliance with EU regulations and the IAA’s requirements.”“From today, there will be no more rostering-related flight cancellations this winter or in summer 2018. Slower growth this winter will create lots of spare aircraft and crews, which will allow us to manage the exceptional volumes of annual leave we committed to delivering in the nine months to December 2017. We will start a new 12-month leave period on 1 January 2018 in full compliance with EU regulations and the IAA’s requirements.”
The airline said cancelling thousands of flights over the winter would eliminate all risk of further flight cancellations.The airline said cancelling thousands of flights over the winter would eliminate all risk of further flight cancellations.
But former and current Ryanair pilots, among them several who warned last week of further cancellations, said anger about working conditions could lead to more problems.But former and current Ryanair pilots, among them several who warned last week of further cancellations, said anger about working conditions could lead to more problems.
“It all depends if we manage to unionise,” said one current Ryanair pilot. He added that he and colleagues might “work to rule”, meaning they would stop doing things they are not obliged to contractually, but which help the airline manage its tight schedule.“It all depends if we manage to unionise,” said one current Ryanair pilot. He added that he and colleagues might “work to rule”, meaning they would stop doing things they are not obliged to contractually, but which help the airline manage its tight schedule.
This includes turning up for work early to ensure punctuality and fielding telephone calls from the company during days off.This includes turning up for work early to ensure punctuality and fielding telephone calls from the company during days off.
“That would cause significant delays and some cancellations,” he said. “Striking is only a last resort as we don’t want to harm the passengers. We only want Ryanair to reason with us and give similar contracts compared to other airlines – easyJet for example – so ultimately it’s up to Ryanair, and I’m sure they will not listen until we take collective action.”“That would cause significant delays and some cancellations,” he said. “Striking is only a last resort as we don’t want to harm the passengers. We only want Ryanair to reason with us and give similar contracts compared to other airlines – easyJet for example – so ultimately it’s up to Ryanair, and I’m sure they will not listen until we take collective action.”
“They cannot rule it [fresh cancellations] out,” said one former pilot, who is in touch with former colleagues. “They cannot rule it [fresh cancellations] out,” said one former pilot, who is in touch with former colleagues. Both spoke on condition of anonymity in case their job prospects were affected.
Both spoke on condition of anonymity in case their job prospects were affected.
Ryanair estimated the total cost of its cancellations at less than €50m (£44m) but said this would not change its prediction of annual net profit of between €1.4bn (£1.2bn) and €1.45bn.Ryanair estimated the total cost of its cancellations at less than €50m (£44m) but said this would not change its prediction of annual net profit of between €1.4bn (£1.2bn) and €1.45bn.
But it admitted the cancellations would slow its rapid growth, with 6 million fewer passengers due to fly with the airline by 2019 than otherwise would have. It will also reduce fares as it seeks to prevent further damage to its reputation.But it admitted the cancellations would slow its rapid growth, with 6 million fewer passengers due to fly with the airline by 2019 than otherwise would have. It will also reduce fares as it seeks to prevent further damage to its reputation.
The blunder has also forced Ryanair to pull out of its plans to bid for Alitalia, Italy’s bankrupt flag carrier. Ryanair said it wanted to “eliminate all management distractions”.The blunder has also forced Ryanair to pull out of its plans to bid for Alitalia, Italy’s bankrupt flag carrier. Ryanair said it wanted to “eliminate all management distractions”.
Hannah Maundrell, editor-in-chief of money.co.uk, said the latest flight cancellations were frustrating for customers. Hannah Maundrell, editor-in-chief of money.co.uk, said the latest flight cancellations were frustrating for customers. “It’s so disappointing for Ryanair passengers whose flights have been cancelled, even with more notice this time it’s still seriously frustrating,” she said.
“It’s so disappointing for Ryanair passengers whose flights have been cancelled, even with more notice this time it’s still seriously frustrating,” she said.
Twitter users reported problems rebooking and speaking to customer service representatives on Ryanair’s website as they tried to rescue holiday plans and make alternative arrangements for business trips.Twitter users reported problems rebooking and speaking to customer service representatives on Ryanair’s website as they tried to rescue holiday plans and make alternative arrangements for business trips.
#Ryanair is a #failure drops my flight, website doesn't work for rebooking, nor chat, nor phone support. #EpicFail #CustomerExperience#Ryanair is a #failure drops my flight, website doesn't work for rebooking, nor chat, nor phone support. #EpicFail #CustomerExperience
@Ryanair good luck rebooking. The online flight change service doesn't work - i can only change one leg@Ryanair good luck rebooking. The online flight change service doesn't work - i can only change one leg
Ryanair dismissed suggestions that its scheduling problems have been exacerbated by an overall shortage of pilots, insisting that it has recruited 186 since the problem began and has a long waiting list of applicants. But it declined to say how many of the pilots on its waiting list have the number of flying hours required to be a captain.Ryanair dismissed suggestions that its scheduling problems have been exacerbated by an overall shortage of pilots, insisting that it has recruited 186 since the problem began and has a long waiting list of applicants. But it declined to say how many of the pilots on its waiting list have the number of flying hours required to be a captain.
A former Ryanair pilot said: “There will be a large waiting list at what I call cadet level. The problem is that when experienced people leave, you can’t replace them with inexperienced people. You can’t replace a captain with one of those cadets.A former Ryanair pilot said: “There will be a large waiting list at what I call cadet level. The problem is that when experienced people leave, you can’t replace them with inexperienced people. You can’t replace a captain with one of those cadets.
“The flying Ryanair does can be more challenging than long-haul. It’s a different challenge. You’re operating at small airports with very little air traffic control and different procedures. You need experience.”“The flying Ryanair does can be more challenging than long-haul. It’s a different challenge. You’re operating at small airports with very little air traffic control and different procedures. You need experience.”
Ryanair also said reports from Irish pilots union IALPA that more than 700 of its pilots have quit in the past year were exaggerated, insisting only 260 have left.Ryanair also said reports from Irish pilots union IALPA that more than 700 of its pilots have quit in the past year were exaggerated, insisting only 260 have left.
Many of Ryanair’s 4,200 pilots fly for the airline on a temporary contract basis rather than as full employees, a situation that has been a bone of contention for some. In letters that have been circulated among Ryanair pilots at dozens of bases across Europe, some have demanded that the airline ditch the contract model in favour of local employment contracts.Many of Ryanair’s 4,200 pilots fly for the airline on a temporary contract basis rather than as full employees, a situation that has been a bone of contention for some. In letters that have been circulated among Ryanair pilots at dozens of bases across Europe, some have demanded that the airline ditch the contract model in favour of local employment contracts.
Both pilots and cabin crew have been turning to trade unions for advice and in some cases applying for membership in a bid to secure improved conditions.Both pilots and cabin crew have been turning to trade unions for advice and in some cases applying for membership in a bid to secure improved conditions.
But Ryanair said it would not meet unions and would only meet “directly” with its “people”.But Ryanair said it would not meet unions and would only meet “directly” with its “people”.