Apr 29, 2024 11:00 –
Pasqualino Trubia
The Justice of the Peace of Cagliari recently issued a ruling confirming the right of air passengers to receive compensation in the event of significant delays. An emblematic case involved two travelers from Siena, who after an inconvenience lasting over five hours on the Ryanair flight from Cagliari to Pisa, obtained total financial compensation of 500 euros. The delay, which significantly exceeded passengers’ expectations, prompted the couple to turn to ItaliaRimborso, an organization that assists consumers in requesting refunds for air transport disruptions. The compensation request amounted to 250 euros for each passenger, a figure which was fully recognized by the judge. The decision of the Justice of the Peace not only underlines the responsibility of the airline towards passengers, but also highlights the European regulations relating to the rights of air travellers, which provide for automatic compensation in cases of prolonged delays, cancellations or denied boarding .
The ruling therefore established that Ryanair will have to pay a sum of 500 euros to the two unfortunate passengers, recognizing the difficulties and inconveniences suffered. This episode not only reaffirms the importance of consumer rights in the airline sector, but marks a point in favor of the effectiveness of regulations to protect passengers. ItaliaRimborso welcomed the verdict: «This ruling is a significant victory for the rights of air passengers and for consumer protection as a whole», commented a spokesperson for the organisation. «Every year, thousands of travelers experience delays and cancellations that alter their plans and cause significant inconvenience. It is essential that airlines are required to respect passengers’ rights and offer adequate compensation for the inconvenience caused.” This ruling represents a further step forward in the fight for passengers’ rights and will hopefully act as a deterrent for airlines to maintain standards of punctuality and reliability.
