Two Schiphol flights affected by Monday Ryanair cancellations; travelers furious
Two flights between Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam and Dublin are among the 56 flights Ryanair canceled on Monday. On Saturday the Irish budget airline announced that it is canceling between 40 and 50 flights every day for the next six weeks because it "messed up in the planning of pilot holidays", according to a statement on Facebook. Hundreds of furious travelers took to social media to complain about the airline.
Due to overdue pilot vacations, bad weather and strikes in France's air traffic control, less than 80 percent of Ryanair flights are leaving on Schedule, according to the Volkskrant. With the cancelation of around 2 thousand flights over the next six weeks, Ryanair hopes to increase its punctuality to 90 percent of flights leaving on time. Travelers can ask for a refund, or book another flight. An estimated 285 thousand people are affected by the cancelations. "We apologize to all affected customers of these cancelations", Ryanair wrote on Facebook.
The airline published lists of canceled flights up to, and including, Wednesday September 20th. On Monday 56 flights are canceled, including flight 3105 from Amsterdam to Dublin and flight 3104 from Dublin to Amsterdam.
Social media is filled with complaints from Ryanair travelers. Some only heard their flights were canceled a few hours in advance, ruining holiday plans. Others are stuck abroad, because their flight home was canceled and the next possible flight is only days later.
One affected customer, a young man from Gent, had his Sunday flight from Bulgaria ot Charleroi canceled, according to De Limburger. "The alternative is next week Sunday, the 24th. Is this a joke?" he wrote on Twitter. "Ryanair suddenly cancels thousands of flights. Vacation plans up in smoke. Thanks", another tweeted. Another customer was somewhat more positive about the experience. "Nice how Ryanair turned a weekend away into a week."
Many customers plan to claim compensation from the airline for extra costs. If they are willing to get into a legal battle with Ryanair, customers could claim compensation for more expensive flights booked with other airlines, necessary hotel bookings, and canceled reservations at their destination, according to the Volkskrant. EU regulations state the travelers whose flights are canceled within 14 days of departure, are entitled to compensation of between 125 euros and 600 euros.
