Rynair’s decision to cancel up to 50 flights a day for six weeks in order to improve punctuality will likely set the airline back an incredible £18million (AU$31 million) in compensation.
The carrier is currently under fire from passengers after cancelling some 2,024 flights until the end of October in order to create additional standby aircraft and restore on-time performance, which fell below 80 percent during the first two weeks of September.
The carrier attributed this 10 percent decline in on-time performance to an increased allocation of annual leave for pilots and cabin staff, which was approved in order to shift the airline’s holiday year from April-March to January-December.
Michael O’Leary, the airline’s Chief Executive, admitted that the situation was “clearly a mess” but ensured that the company is working hard to finalise the list of cancellations and compensate guests.
“[Cancellations] will affect less than two per cent of our customers.”
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair Chief Executive
Although Ryanair “sincerely apologised” for disruptions, travellers on social media weren’t too impressed by the decision or the airline’s delay in disclosing details on affected services.
Among them were Facebook users who requested the carrier notify affected guests as soon as possible.
There were champions of the airline who may have just lost faith in the business.
And those who found their sense of sarcasm.
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