PLANE SIMPLE
Ryanair boss Micheal O’Leary says refunds will be paid within 10 to 12 weeks
RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary has said customers waiting for refunds should get their money back within 10 to 12 weeks.
The boss of the low-cost airline said Ryanair is currently dealing with “an unprecedented record backlog of cancellations”.
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Ryanair has been dogged by complaints from customers who say they've struggled to get a cash refund for their cancelled flights, with the airline also offering flight vouchers as an alternative.
In a new interview with BBC Breakfast this morning, Mr O’Leary says the company is currently processing 35 million refunds, compared to the 10,000 a week they would usually have before the coronavirus epidemic.
The Ryanair boss estimates that the airline has issued refunds for around “40 per cent” of customers that have asked for their money back.
Ryanair has been of aircraft due to the coronavirus crisis - although it hopes to restart flights from July.
How Ryanair aims to protect passengers from coronavirus
HERE are the measures Ryanair says it will take to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus:
- Face masks/ coverings worn by passengers and cabin crew
- Fewer checked bags encouraged
- Passengers to check in online
- Passengers to download boarding pass onto phone
- Temperature checks at airport entry
- Aircraft fitted with HEPA air filters
- All aircraft interior surfaces disinfected every night with chemicals
- Social distancing at airports and onboard aircraft encouraged where possible
- Limited trolley service onboard with just pre-packaged snacks and drinks
- Food and drink paid for by card only
- Queuing for plane toilets will be banned - passengers will have to ask to use the loo
Mr O'Leary told BBC Breakfast: “We have already paid out nearly 500 million euros and we’ve got another 600 to 700 million euros to go, we think we will get through that in the next 10 to 12 weeks.
“We are assuring everyone that your refund is safe, if you want the cash refund you will get it.
“Just be patient because we have to process a record backlog of cancellations caused by government measures and we have limited staff in our offices to process these refunds, but they are on their way.”
At the end of last month, consumer group Which? claimed Ryanair had left eight out of ten passengers still waiting for a refund for their cancelled flights.
Ryanair will restart routes to Europe from July 1 with new safety rules implemented for travellers to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Last week, Mr O'Leary told the that he expects to slash fares by half the price, meaning passengers may soon be able to snap up bargain flights.
But Ryanair still expects to carry fewer than 80million passengers in 2021 - almost 50 per cent below its original 154million target.
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If you've been struggling to get a refund from Ryanair, we've rounded up other ways to get your money back.
In its trading results, released last month, Ryanair warned of an expected record loss of over €200million in the first three months of 2021.
Job cuts are currently being consulted on, with up to 3,000 cabin crew and pilots, and 250 head office staff expected to be hit.
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