Ryanair is to cancel 40 to 50 flights every day for the next six weeks, in a bid to improve punctuality of flights.
The budget Irish-based airline announced the plan on Friday, saying that it was “unacceptable” that its punctuality had fallen below 80% in the first half of this month.
It also said it had to clear a backlog of staff leave by the end of the year.
The move could affect up to 285,000 passengers, who will be offered alternative flights or refunds.
Ryanair said that less than 2% of its flights would be cancelled and the move would help it hit its annual punctuality target of 90%.
But passengers have complained about the short notice of the cancellations.
EU compensation rules for cancelled flights
- Passengers are entitled to assistance and compensation, if the disruption was within an airline’s control
- Airlines have to offer full refunds, paid within seven days, or rebookings for a flight cancelled at short notice
- In addition, passengers can also claim compensation
- Cancellation amounts are: 250 euros (£218) for short-haul, 440 euros (£384) for medium-haul and 600 euros (£523) for long-haul
- Passengers who reach their destination more than three hours late can be compensated from 200 to 600 euros, depending on the length of flights and delay
Source BBC