Ryanair's u-turn on its threat to ignore EU rules on compensating passengers doesn't come as much surprise. However high its planes may fly, the company is not above the law.
However, it's likely that this will prove to be the opening salvo in an attempt by airlines to challenge passengers' legal rights.
Of course the recent events were unprecedented and it may be that there are lessons to learn. But we mustn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The European rules give people the confidence that they aren't going to find themselves racking up huge costs because an airline has cancelled their flight. They will have brought some level of comfort to the people stranded over the last week and have already helped hundreds of thousands of passengers across the EU.
However, it's likely that this will prove to be the opening salvo in an attempt by airlines to challenge passengers' legal rights.
Of course the recent events were unprecedented and it may be that there are lessons to learn. But we mustn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The European rules give people the confidence that they aren't going to find themselves racking up huge costs because an airline has cancelled their flight. They will have brought some level of comfort to the people stranded over the last week and have already helped hundreds of thousands of passengers across the EU.
Why should the airlines have to pay, it's grossly unfair. They can't get insurance against volcanic eruptions, but yet they have to compensate any passengers stranded by the ash crisis. It's like having a burglar crashes your car after stealing it, and you having to pay for a taxi to take him to where he was going. Yes it's awful people are stranded in Spain because of natural occurrences, but the fact that they are natural should make them faultless. But what the EU is doing is like blaming the airlines. Michael O' Leary has a valid argument why not to pay, the law isn't always right. The law should be obeyed when right, and challenged when wrong, and this is wrong. The problem with the EU is it tries to meddle too much, people in Ireland quiet like driving in mph rather than not having a clue how fast they are going, people in England should have the choice weather they buy a pound or a KG of bananas.
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