Ryanair faces compensation claims over disruptions caused by 2018 strikes

By Scott Kanowsky 

Investing.com -- Ryanair Holdings PLC (IR:RYA) has chosen not to pursue an appeal to the U.K. Supreme Court over a prior ruling that a strike action by the airline's staff was not an "extraordinary circumstance," according to a statement from Britain's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Monday.

The CAA said the decision means that passengers impacted by a labor action in 2018 "should be" able to successfully make a claim for compensation from the budget carrier. Tens of thousands of customers were affected by flight cancellations following walkouts by cabin crew and pilots that summer.

The Dublin-based Ryanair previously argued that it did not have to pay back these passengers for these disruptions because the strikes themselves constituted an "extraordinary circumstance" - a stance that led to a legal battle with the CAA. A high court found against Ryanair's position in April 2021 and, in January, the U.K. Court of Appeal upheld the decision.

After the judgment, Ryanair secured permission to pursue a further appeal to the Supreme Court. However, it has now dropped its plan to appeal.