Ryanair ordered to compensate passengers affected by pilot strikes

Passengers who were on flights cancelled during staff strikes against budget airline Ryanair last year are entitled to financial compensation, according to Dutch company Aviclaim. The firm filed suit against Ryanair on behalf of its clients who were adversely affected by the cancellations.

Ryanair had claimed force majeure and said they did not have to pay out affected passengers, according to RTL Z. A lawyer for the firm said the court ruled in its favor, and ordered Ryanair to pay 400 euros per passenger.

"A staff strike is generally a protest signal to reinforce a desire to improve working conditions. The airline can exert influence on this, as a result of which it cannot be regarded as an exceptional circumstance," the claims company wrote in a statement.

In general, the 1,250 passengers represented by Aviclaim will receive about 80 percent of the rewarded amount, or 318 euros. They were booked on 203 different flights which were scrapped last year.

Aviclaim plans to file more claims on behalf of other affected passengers. The firm said that 110 thousand passengers could be entitled to compensation because of the court ruling.