European regulators are challenging a number of airlines over their treatment of passengers who were disrupted by the volcanic ash cloud over northern Europe. Ryanair has been accused by the Irish Commission for Aviation Regulation of unlawfully limiting the amount of money it has paid out for expenses such as hotel accommodation and food.

European Union regulations clearly state that any passenger who has a flight cancelled in or out of the EU with an EU airline, has the right to either a full refund or passage on another route. If the customer chooses to be re-routed, then necessary food and accommodation must be provided whilst they wait for other travel arrangements to be made.

Ryanair boss, Michael Leary, has taken issue with the regulations. He said that although the airline would look at requests for expense reimbursements, any payments made would be limited to the original price paid by the passenger for their ticket. He said that it was absurd to expect an airline, which sold a ticket to a customer for perhaps €30, to be expected to then spend thousands of euros on hotel accommodation for that customer.

The Irish Commission for Aviation Regulation said that Ryanair’s position was not in line with European Union legislation. It said that airlines were under an obligation to their passengers, and that although it realised that the airline industry is having a hard time financially, it had to meet its obligations.

The Commission reminded passengers to look after any receipts related to expenses such as food an accommodation incurred because of delayed or cancelled flights.