THE Civil Aviation Authority is to investigate whether Ryanair is flouting new European laws that require airlines to compensate customers for cancelled or delayed flights.

The CAA is acting after the Air Transport Users’ Group passed on several complaints against Europe’s biggest budget airlines to the industry, and it expects complaints to soar over the holiday period.

A spokesman for the CAA confirmed that it had begun examining Ryanair’s application of the new rules in a number of cases. The authority has the power to fine Ryanair £5,000 for each breach of the European law.

Under the rules, introduced in February, airlines must offer meals and free phone calls for flights delayed by more than two hours. If the delay continues overnight, customers are entitled to accommodation.

Evidence is accumulating that Ryanair is ignoring the new rules while it challenges the legislation in the courts.

Michael Cawley, deputy chief executive of Ryanair, was unable to say how many passengers had been compensated under the scheme and admitted that his company was in no hurry to make payments to passengers. “Only when the case is proven will we pay; a lot of them aren’t,” Mr Cawley said. He added that only about one Ryanair aircraft a month suffered an overnight delay.

Passengers who have suffered delays with Ryanair have received a piece of paper setting out its approach to the new rules. The notice makes it clear that compensation will be difficult to claim and says that the legislation is “illogical and unjust” and “discriminatory” because it does not apply to other forms of transport.

The airline has said that, pending the outcome of its legal challenge, it will compensate reasonable hotel costs incurred through a cancellation or flight delay and asks passengers to submit receipts. Common practice in the airline industry is for an airline to find hotel space for customers who are stranded overnight.

In direct contravention of the new laws, the notice also says: “Ryanair will not provide compensation for meals, etc, as our services do not include free meals/snacks on board and nor do our low air fares.” Airlines typically pay about $25 (£14) to long-haul passengers delayed for more than two hours.

DELAYED? THIS IS YOUR ENTITLEMENT

Assistance comes into effect after two hours for flights of 1,500km or less, after three hours for flights of 1,500 to 3,000km, and after four hours for flights further than 3,500km

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