Ryanair passengers issued compensation warning over air traffic control strikes

Ryanair has announced the cancellation of several flights due to planned strikes at Italian airports

Ryanair passengers have been issued with warnings over compensation for potential delays and cancellations. Several flights scheduled for Wednesday, September 25, have been cancelled due to planned strikes at Italian airports and industrial action is set to affect major hubs across the European tourist hotspot, including Bologna, Milan, Rome, and Venice.

Anyone going to or from Italy in the coming days should be aware of their rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled. If you have booked a package holiday and your flights are cancelled, you usually have the right to a full refund, a reroute of the trip destination and potentially compensation from the airline.

However, experts at Claims.co.uk advise that delays and cancellations caused by air traffic control restrictions are considered an 'extraordinary circumstance' and therefore do not qualify for compensation.

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A spokesperson said: "In cases of flight delays and flight cancellations due to an extraordinary circumstance, the airline must provide you with additional services, depending on the length of your delay and waiting time. These include free meals and refreshments, which you are entitled to when your flight is delayed by at least two hours. Passengers should also receive a free overnight accommodation and a transfer to and from the airport if the flight is shifted to the next day.

"If a travel operator needs to cancel a package holiday for any reason, they are required to notify you as soon as possible and without undue delay. This is to ensure that you have enough time to help you make alternative arrangements or seek refunds.

"However, in many people's case due to the disruption, if you are at the airport when the flight is cancelled, it is advised that you contact your travel company straight away to talk through your options. If the delay lasts more than five hours, but is not actually cancelled, you should also be able to choose not to travel and get a full refund on your ticket.

"If your flight cannot be rearranged, meaning your whole holiday must be cancelled, then the travel company must offer an alternative holiday if possible, or a refund of the full package price, not just the flight part. We advise anyone that is due to travel in the next couple of days to continue checking the latest updates on their flight tracker, on the app, official website or on official social media channels before heading to the airport."

So what is the best option?

If you are wondering whether to claim a full refund or reschedule your holiday, this depends on personal circumstances, the website advised.

There are several factors you can consider making this decision:

Refund Amount: If the travel operator is offering a full refund, this could be financially more appealing, especially if you are uncertain about your future travel plans.

Availability: Consider if the dates the travel operator offers you are a suitable alternative date for your original trip. If the new dates do not align with your schedule, rescheduling might not be a viable option.

Change Fees: Check if the travel operator is waiving any change fees for rescheduling. Some operators might impose fees for changing travel dates, which could impact your decision.

Travel Insurance: If you have travel insurance, review your policy to see if it covers cancellations or changes due to unforeseen circumstances. This might influence your decision to reschedule or opt for a refund.

The spokesperson added: "If you received less than 14 days' notice of the cancellation, you can claim compensation. This can be awarded in pounds or euros depending on where your flight was due to depart from."

The awards are according to the following scale:

• £220 / €250 for all flights of 1,500km or less (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam);
• £350 / €400 for all flights between 1,500km and 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakech);
• £520 / €600 for all other flights (e.g. London to New York).