Airline complaints for Q1 / Q2 2008

The Commission for Aviation Regulation yesterday published it's Report on Passenger Rights complaints for the first two quarters of the 2008. In total, 86 complaints were received which were deemed valid under EU regulation 261/2007. In addition to this number the commission received a further 86 complaints relating to flights which originated in another EU member state other than Ireland. The vast majority (65) of complaints related to flight cancellations with long delay, greater than two hours (12), denied boarding (3), downgrading (1) and other (6) making up the balance. Not all complaints have been resolved yet but of those that have, airlines have made refunds or paid compensation in 44% cases but have escaped liability in 34% by claiming extraordinary circumstances such as extreme weather conditions. Not surprisingly, of the complaints relating to flights originating at Irish airports, Dublin tops the list with 58 complaints. Dublin does however perform better on a per passenger basis than Cork (11), Shannon (8), Knock (3) and Galway (3). Of the complaints at Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Galway, Ryanair had 19 complaints or 3.11 complaints per million passengers. Aer Lingus had 21 complaints or 4.35 complaints per million passengers.