Ryanair pays passengers in row over flight cancellation

PASSENGERS are claiming victory in a dispute with low-cost airline Ryanair after they finally received a refund for a flight they claim was cancelled but later took off without them.

The five holidaymakers were waiting in the departure lounge of Edinburgh Airport for a flight to Marrakesh when they say Ryanair announced it had been axed due to strike action by Spanish air traffic controllers.

But when they contacted the airline to get their money back, they were told the plane had departed after a short delay and the firm refused to pay up.

Now, three months on and following last week's story in the Evening News, the party has been repaid 409.90, the full cost of their flights.

Around 15 passengers left behind by flight FR6824 on December 4 had hoped to recoup their losses by taking the airline to the small claims court.

Passenger Neale Gilhooley, a 48-year-old graphic designer from Broughton Street, said that while he was pleased the wrangle had come to an end, he was "disappointed" Ryanair hadn't apologised for the confusion over the flight.

"They have put through a credit of 81.98 each into the account of the person who booked the trip, but we've not heard a word from Ryanair.

"The bulk of our concerns have been answered but we are left with a bitter taste because there was no apology. How long would it have taken for a quick e-mail admitting their mistake?

"They are not making any admission of guilt and aren't telling us anything, not even that we were getting a refund. If my friend had not checked his bank account we might never have known."

"The one thing - as well as our own cash - we deserve is an apology as we did spend half a day going out to Edinburgh Airport and back to fly nowhere, never mind all the e-mails and faxes we sent."

He added: "I cannot believe it's just coincidence that the money appeared just days after it appeared in the paper.

"I'm sure that this is largely due to the coverage in the Evening News."

Mr Gilhooley was one of 15 passengers responding to a post by another passenger on the TripAdvisor website and he said he hoped others were fully compensated.

"There could be other passengers out there who are not getting their money back and who we cannot contact."

A Ryanair spokesman said: "Ryanair are happy to provide a refund if it is due and we thank passengers for addressing this with customers services."