Landmark win over air delays compensation claims for travellers

TRAVELLERS whose holidays have been wrecked by cancelled flights could be in line for compensation after a landmark legal ruling yesterday.

08:24, Thu, Jun 12, 2014

airline, flight, flights, plane, travel, journey, holiday, compensation, payout Travellers who have lost out due to flight cancellations could be awarded compensation [GETTY]

Ronald Huzar, 58, yesterday won his case after his flight from Malaga, Spain, to Manchester was delayed by 30 hours in 2011.

He claimed he was entitled to compensation under European Union regulations after suffering "no little inconvenience".

Airlines cannot avoid ducking their responsibilities by claiming that routine technical problems are extraordinary circumstances
Richard Lloyd, from consumer organisation Which?

However, the carrier Jet2.com said the delay was down to a technical fault and was an "extraordinary circumstance".

The Court of Appeal ruling in Mr Huzar's favour means people who have suffered delays in the past six years and had their claims rejected could now get compensation.

Richard Lloyd, of consumer organisation Which?, said: "Airlines cannot avoid ducking their responsibilities by claiming that routine technical problems are extraordinary circumstances."

Mr Huzar was earlier awarded the standard £280 compensation.