Ryanair Apologizes Over Mass Cancellations Caused by Pilot Vacations
The budget airline — known for ultralow prices that it combines with charges for services most airlines offer for free, like airport check-in
and reissuing a boarding pass — has faced a wave of customer anger over the move to cancel the flights over a six-week period this month and next month.
“This is a time of distress and anger for many passengers whose flights are due in the next few weeks,” said Adam Mortimer,
a consumer adviser at the U. K. European Consumer Centre, which provides advice to shoppers and travelers in the region.
It has prompted a strong reaction, even by Ryanair’s standards — the airline often notes
that while its customers may complain about how they are treated compared to full-service carriers, they often continue flying with Ryanair because of its bargain fares.
The move, which affects about 315,000 customers flying through airports across Europe, has cost it 25 million euros, or about $30 million,
and sent its shares 3 percent lower since it first announced the cancellations on Friday.
Ryanair blamed “a failure within its pilot rostering function” for the cancellations,
and said 95 percent of its customers impacted would have new travel arrangements, or refunds approved, by the end of the week.
Ryanair’s chief executive apologized to shareholders
and customers on Thursday, looking to stanch criticism over the cancellation of more than 2,100 flights after it scheduled too many pilots for vacation.
