easyJet
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- U2/EZY (UK) |EC/EJU (Europe) |DS/EZS (Switzerland)
- Airline Type:
- Low-Cost Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Geneva Airport, London Gatwick Airport, London Luton Airport, Milan Malpensa Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1995
- CEO:
- Johan Lundgren
The last few years have seen airlines overwhelmed with compensation and refund requests. If not for the pandemic and restrictions-related disruptions, then for the ensuing staffing shortages across the European aviation industry. However, every now and then, there are other, more commonplace reasons for delays and cancellations, such as the weather. Meanwhile, one can imagine the surprise of some easyJet compensation claimants when the airline denied them their application because of snow on the runway… in August.
Three hours and three minutes late to Gatwick
On August 15, the weekly U25104 easyJet Jersey (JER) to London Gatwick (LGW) was delayed by over three hours. The scheduled time of departure was 08:45, but the plane, an Airbus A319, did not push back from the gate until 12:12. According to the UK flight delay compensation rules, airlines may have to provide compensation if the flight arrives more than three hours late, which U25104 did – by three minutes. For a short-haul flight, the amount would be £220 ($258).
However, the right to compensation depends on what caused the delay. Disruptions caused by extreme weather, strikes by airport or air traffic control employees, or other “extraordinary circumstances” do not warrant compensation. Meanwhile, it is safe to say the passengers from the August 15 JER – LGW flight were somewhat perplexed when easyJet denied their claim due to “snow on the runway” on a day reaching 23 degrees Celsius.
The airline first denied the claim citing snow on the runway as the cause for the delay, Photo: Airbus
Runway closed for August snow clearance
According to The Jersey Evening Post, the response included in the denied compensation claim assessment was as follows,
“To further explain what happened on the day; JERSEY had to close its runway for snow clearance, resulting in flights holding overhead for extended periods or having to divert to alternative airports. Some flights had to be cancelled, others, experienced delays. We do take reasonable measures to avoid delays and cancellations to our flights by having replacement crews and spare aircraft available in our network. In the circumstances, these options were not possible as the delay to your flight was a direct result of adverse weather conditions.”
A spokesperson later stated it was due to human error, but the actual reason was still adverse weather. Photo: Getty Images.
Weather still to blame, so no cash
A spokesperson for the airline said that passengers had been provided with the wrong information due to “human error.” However, they would still not receive any compensation as the reason for the delay was heavy fog and low clouds. They added,
“We are sorry passengers received incorrect information regarding the precise weather conditions which caused the delay. Our operations control centre manually logs the reason for the delay in our system, and so this was as a result of human error. Nevertheless it remains the case that compensation is not due as the delay was as a result of the weather. We always pay compensation when it is due.”
Have you ever applied for and been denied or awarded compensation for a delayed flight? How easy or difficult was the process? Leave a comment below and share your experience.
