A citizen has contacted La Voz to report that "Ryanair continues to abuse with air claims", after the company has refused to compensate him for a five-hour delay he suffered on a flight from Lanzarote to Madrid, despite the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) considering that Ryanair "has not proven the existence of extraordinary circumstances" and that it "must" pay "compensation".
"Ryanair is systematically violating the rights of passengers", says the affected passenger, who states that he has decided to resort to legal action. I had no choice but to put it in the hands of lawyers", he points out.
Specifically, it was on May 14 when said passenger suffered a delay on a flight, after which four days later he decided to claim to Ryanair. However, the company responded by stating that the delay had been caused "by weather conditions (storms)" denying any type of compensation. "As this delay was unexpected and therefore, beyond Ryanair's control, we regret to inform you that there is no monetary compensation in accordance with EU regulation 261/2004", the company specifically replied.
Aesa considers that he is entitled to compensation of 400 euros
After that, this citizen decided to contact the State Aviation Safety Agency, who in a letter dated September 23 informed him that, although according to a report sent by Ryanair "the flight was delayed due to a diversion to Fuerteventura in the plane that operates the previous sector, due to strong winds in Lanzarote", the company "has not" "proven the existence of extraordinary circumstances" that would exempt it from paying compensation.
"Therefore, the company must pay them compensation", added Aesa, who pointed out that considering that the distance between Arrecife and Madrid is greater than 1,500 kilometers on an intra-community flight and taking into account Article 7 of Regulation (EC) 261/2004", the compensation must be 400 euros per passenger".
However, Aesa already warned this passenger that its report "is not binding on the parties" and that it "cannot force" Ryanair to comply with it. Therefore, despite this report, the company has refused to compensate him, insisting on disassociating itself from the fact that the delay was caused by reasons beyond the company's control
"Ryanair has fully cooperated with the regulators, providing detailed documentation that demonstrates that the incident on its flight was due to causes beyond our control. In view of the above, we reaffirm definitively our position that no compensation is due in this case", they replied to the passenger after claiming to Ryanair again on October 10.
Thus, faced with what he considers an "abuse", in addition to resorting to legal action, this citizen wanted to share his case "so that users or clients of airlines know how to defend their rights".
