As strikes hit 12 major Spanish airports handling Ryanair flights, causing widespread disruption through August and beyond, Legal Expert, Elliot Johnson from Angel Reyes & Associates offers essential legal insight into what affected passengers are entitled to, and how they can protect their rights during this turbulent period.
Elliot Johnson, Legal Expert at Angel Reyes & Associates, says: “Passengers caught in the chaos of the Ryanair-affiliated strikes, especially those flying to or from Spain, have more rights than they may realise under current UK and EU law. Strikes by ground-handling contractors, while technically ‘third-party,’ are still often considered within the airline’s responsibility if those providers are part of the airline’s regular operations. This means compensation claims shouldn’t be automatically dismissed under the ‘extraordinary circumstances’ clause.
Under UK and EU Regulation 261, passengers may be entitled to €250–€600 in compensation if their flight is cancelled or delayed more than 3 hours, unless the airline can prove the disruption was entirely beyond their control and all reasonable steps were taken to avoid it. In many cases like this, that’s a high bar.
Even where no compensation is due, Ryanair must provide meals, communication access, accommodation, and alternative transport for passengers left stranded. These ‘duty of care’ obligations kick in as soon as delays exceed 2 hours, regardless of fault.
For affected passengers, I strongly recommend:
- Documenting everything (emails, receipts, screenshots).
- Requesting written reasons for the disruption.
- Avoiding third-party claim companies with high fees—file directly with the airline.
- Escalating unresolved claims to the UK Civil Aviation Authority or Spain’s AESA.
The key takeaway is that airlines may push back, but your rights are legally protected. The more informed and prepared you are, the stronger your claim.”
Tips & Takeaways:
- Check your eligibility under UK/EU Regulation 261: flights delayed over 3 hours or cancelled at short notice may trigger up to €600 in compensation.
- File claims directly with the airline and escalate to the CAA if rejected unfairly.
- Document all communications and costs. These support your claim if it goes to arbitration.
- Know your entitlements: meals, hotel, and transfers are covered regardless of whether you’re compensated.
- Don’t accept ‘extraordinary circumstances’ as a blanket denial, as strikes aren’t always exempt.