Which? responds as Ryanair rejoins AviationADR

Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, said:

“When Ryanair walked out on the airline dispute resolution system in 2018, it left thousands of passengers facing a struggle to get compensation they were due for flight cancellations.

“Ryanair’s decision to re-join the scheme has only come after the CAA has made changes to the ADR system that risk potentially weakening protections for travellers – just as unprecedented travel disruption during the pandemic has shown us how much these protections are needed.

“This demonstrates why ADR should be mandatory in aviation so airlines can’t influence the terms of their participation. Most importantly, the government must urgently give the aviation regulator the power to fine airlines for breaches of the law, to discourage carriers from disregarding their legal responsibilities to passengers, such as paying compensation where it is owed.”

Notes to editors:

1) Which? calls for overhaul of “broken” airline complaints system to restore damaged trust in the travel industry
2) A broken system – Ryanair potentially saving millions in unclaimed compensation

Statement