Sept. 17 (UPI) — Ryanair, the largest carrier in Europe, canceled 82 flights Sunday because of vacation scheduling problems with its pilots.
Cancellations by the Irish budget airline over the next six weeks could affect up to 285,000 passengers. The average 50 flights cancellations a day are less than 2 percent of its daily total, the airlines posted on its website.
The airline plans an additional 164 cancellations Monday through Wednesday because “we have messed up in the planning of pilot holidays and we’re working hard to fix that,” according to marketing officer Kenny Jacobs.
The airline, which posted its cancellations on its website, has seen a greater number of staff take vacations toward the end of the year.
The most affected site is at its base, Stansted.
“Your flight is operating as usual unless you receive an email,” the airline said on its website.
But some passengers said they were not notified of the cancellations.
Julia Cutts, who was booked on the canceled Ancona, Italy, to Stansted flight on Wednesday, said discovered it when she tried to check in.
“Then, when attempting to obtain a refund using the ‘change flight/refund’ tabs, the initial page says flight is indeed cancelled but further into the refund process the system says it cannot process a refund as the flight is not cancelled,” she told the Independent.
“Clearly the system cannot cope with issues.”
Ryanair must provide meals and accommodation as well if cash compensation of $300 for flights 1,000 or more miles, according to European Union regulations.
