Really? I mean Really? O’Leary and Ryanair admit to a mistake?

Apparently so!

In a climbdown over yesterdays position to limit the liablity to the cost of the ticket, Ryanair will now cover all “reasonable” expenses.

In the usual tirade, The Odious Little Man described EU261 (the rules for passenger care) as flawed

In quotes…

“The events of the last seven days, under which Europe’s airlines were prevented from flying by the closure of European airspace, highlight how absurd and discriminatory the EU261 regulations are towards Europe’s airlines,” 

Diddums. That’s why they’re there!

“While competitor ferry, coach and train operators are obliged to reimburse passengers’ reasonable expenses, this reimbursement is limited to the ticket price paid to those operators.
“Yet the airlines are required by regulation to meet potentially unlimited expenses, in circumstances where there has been a catastrophic closure of European airspace over the past seven days, as EU governments and regulators wrongly applied a blanket ban on flights over European airspace. 

Well you could always set up RyanFerries if you want those rules.

“We will continue to work through the European Low Fares Airlines Association and other industry bodies to persuade the European Commission and the European Parliament to alter this regulation to put this reasonable limit on these reimbursement claims.” 

Temper temper mon Capitan! The rules whilst may not be ideal are there to protect the consumer in situations that call for it.

This is an “exceptional” situation, and it’s most likely there will be EU Compensation paid out. Like any expense – keep it reasonable and don’t take the peanut – and you’ll get compensated.

However this will put EC261 under pressure in the future…

BBC News

Well, here’s one part of the answer – the positioning flight is on…

You’ll have to tune in tomorrow to find out if I’m in the lounge or on a plane….

Did you even need to guess? Of course it’s our favourite LCC… Ryanair!

Ryanair is proposing to limit its liability during the Volcano Ash incident to the price of the ticket paid, and no more.

However EC261 politely reminds that they are liable for “reasonable” costs in terms of food and accommodation

To quote the ODM:

“There’s no legislation designed that says any airline getting a fare of €30 should be reimbursing passengers many thousands of euros for hotel accommodation. It’s absurd. I don’t have a problem with everything being grounded for a day or two but there should have been a much faster response by the governments and transport ministers and by the regulators. This is one of these issues we want addressed – why exactly are the airlines expected to be reimbursing people’s hotels, meals and everything else when the governments are the ones who made a balls of this?”

Other airlines – whilst not jumping ontop of this, have expressed that EC261 must be re-examined – FlyBe has said this in so many words (even though they will cover the payouts..

Meanwhile TUI Group (TUI, Thomsom etc) customers may have a very nasty shock with customers being told that they would have to pay the difference if an alternative flight the passenger chooses is more expensive.

“Tui UK and Ireland can confirm that customers who rebook to a different flight of their choice which is more expensive than their original must cover the difference themselves. Similarly, if the flight is cheaper Thomson Airways will refund the difference,” 

What was an inconvenience is now rapidly turning into a money – and sadly – a legal issue. I’m sure lawyers on both sides will love the oncoming payday…

Sources:
The Guardian
BBC News

Ticky Dicky has been on BBC News and here are some choice quotes from the interview with my comments… (SRB’s comments in italics, mine in the usual)


“It’s been challenging” 
Really?

New Tag-Line for the airline “Shit Happens” 
Tag that up for all airlines, and we might be in business.  But with what’s gone on the past 10 years… Shit happens sounds about right


“Government may have panicked closing the airspace”
Maybe. Better safe than sorry? Hindsight. Wonderful thing!

“Should had looked for better options”
 Well a bit more flight testing might had been good, but

“It was the safe option to take”
And who would had been moaning if one of their 747′s/A340′s fell out of the sky?

“Not likely to see a blanket ban again”
Don’t bet on it beardy. If number two volcano goes into overdrive…


“EC Compensation will hopefully paid to Airlines”
… for those who were hit down-route. He’ll expect to happen – but it’ll take time.

Whilst there are some provisos such as new ash, NATS and the CAA have reopened UK airports and airspace.

This is not over by a long stretch, but it means life can begin returning to some sense of normality, as will this blog over the next few days.

We are delighted to report that most restrictions on UK airspace began to be lifted at 2134 (local time) this evening, following new guidance from the UK’s safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority on restrictions to UK airspace as a result of the volcanic eruption.

Air traffic control services have resumed in the UK with the exception of an area over the north west of Scotland which continues to be affected by a dense concentration of volcanic ash. Based on current information this situation is not expected to change overnight. The situation continues to be dynamic as a result of changing weather conditions and the prediction of dense areas of volcanic ash. NATS will continue to monitor the latest Met Office and VAAC information and the CAA’s updates on the availability of UK airspace.

This brings to an end a period of disruption and uncertainty for air passengers. Our operation is fully staffed and already responding to the backlog of flights entering UK airspace. We will be working with the airlines and airports to resume normal operations as soon as possible.

Due to the scale of the disruption, it will take some time for flights to resume normal operations and passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information about flights.

There are no further operational changes expected overnight and on this basis our next update will be at 0900 (local time) on 21 April.

www.nats.co.uk

10pm … things start to reopen in a phased method!

This is breaking and will updated as soon as possible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8633597.stm

Willie Walsh is pleased the airspace is open, and the planes that are in the air are heading into land at Heathrow and getting people moving. But be warned, it’s going to take weeks to get back to normal

Is Atlanta on? I don’t honestly know…

I’m getting reasonably annoyed with this volcano business, and to be honest – the last thing I want to be doing is getting in the air.

So at the moment, I’m waiting for United to declare the travel waiver so I can kibosh this trip.

Alas, I can’t. Why?

One smegging day out!

So it’s a game of patience at the moment, and the time to reschedule everything. Oh the glamour of travel….

So if anyone at United World Headquarters is listening…. please cancel the flying programme from Europe on Saturday?  

Got an iPhone and you’re stuck in an odd city because of this ash?

Lonely Planet are offering free downloads on 13 of their guides from the iTunes Store:

• London
• Paris
• Istanbul
• Barcelona
• Amsterdam
• Rome
• Berlin
• Vienna
• Stockholm
• Budapest
• Copenhagen
• Munich
• Moscow
• San Francisco (Portal App – been free for some time)

This is available free until 22nd (Thursday), so it’s a good time to stock up on reasonable travel guides for nothing, and of course work on iPhones, iPod Touch’s and of course the iPad.

Fill y’boots!

Yup. It’s varible, so here are the key points

• ABZ, INV, EDI to be avalible to 01:00
• NCL, DTV too.
• Flying above the ash-cloud at 20,000ft will be permitted from 19:00 to 01:00 too.

 It’s progress, but the volcano is still singing…

The situation regarding the volcanic eruption in Iceland remains dynamic and the latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation will continue to be variable.

Based on the latest Met Office information, part of Scottish and Northern Irish airspace including Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh airports will continue to be available from 1900 today to 0100 tomorrow, Wednesday 21 April, and also south to Newcastle Airport. Glasgow and Teesside airports will additionally become available in this time period. Restrictions will remain in place over the rest of UK airspace below 20,000ft.

Flights above the ash cloud are now permitted in the UK; between 1900 today and 0100 tomorrow, this will enable aircraft movements above 20,000ft in UK airspace.

We will continue to monitor Met Office information and the situation is likely to change during the course of the day. We will make a further statement at approximately 2100 today.

NATS is maintaining close dialogue with the Met Office and with the UK’s safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace.

We are working closely with Government, airports and airlines, and airframe and aero engine manufacturers to get a better understanding of the effects of the ash cloud and to seek solutions.

www.nats.co.uk

Time for the latest NATS update whist I’m stuck on a bus.

The good news is that Scottish airspace will be open this afternoon (13:00) whilst a decision on traffic over 20000ft will be made so that international traffic above the UK can recommence.

Today could be interesting. I’ll be updating on the 15:00 announcement when it comes.

NATS Announcement below:

The situation regarding the volcanic eruption in Iceland remains dynamic and the latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation today will continue to be variable.


Based on the latest Met Office information, part of Scottish airspace including Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh airports will continue to be available from 1300-1900 today, and also south to Newcastle Airport. Restrictions will remain in place over the rest of UK airspace below 20,000ft.


Overnight the CAA, in line with new guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) decided flights above the ash cloud will be permitted in the UK; between 1300-1900 this will enable aircraft movements above 20,000ft in UK airspace.


We will continue to monitor Met Office information and the situation is likely to change during the course of the day. We will make a further statement at approximately 1500.


NATS is maintaining close dialogue with the Met Office and with the UK’s safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace.


We are working closely with Government, airports and airlines, and airframe and aero engine manufacturers to get a better understanding of the effects of the ash cloud and to seek solutions.

www.nats.co.uk