Wizz Air lands in hassle over flight disruption compensation

Wizz Air passengers who had flight disruption compensation claims dismissed by the airline are to have their circumstances reviewed beneath measures revealed by the trade regulator.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which has confronted criticism for its oversight of the problem sector huge, stated the Hungary-based service had dedicated to rethink claims it obtained to cowl the price of substitute flights, transfers between airports, and help akin to inns.

It stated all claims regarding Wizz flights working to or from the UK, that have been cancelled or considerably delayed and scheduled from 18 March 2022, can be mechanically reviewed.

The regulator added that clients who believed they’d a case forward of that date might additionally file a declare.

The scheduled journey date needed to be throughout the previous six years to qualify, it stated.

Wizz Air was the worst airline for UK flight delays prior to now two years and the CAA stated it had “significant concerns” over the quantity of complaints and its remedy of passengers had been “unacceptable”.

Wizz had been instructed, it stated, to make modifications to its insurance policies and procedures for the way it treats passengers throughout disruption.

The firm’s UK managing director, Marion Geoffroy, responded: “Last summer, like all airlines in Europe, Wizz Air faced unprecedented operating challenges, driven mostly by the external environment, including ATC (air traffic control) disruptions, airport constraints and staff shortages across the whole supply chain.

“As a consequence, we have been unable to fulfill our personal excessive requirements of service.

“Flights were too often late or cancelled, disruption management overwhelmed our internal and external resources, and claims took too long to process and pay.

“We have realized from this expertise and have taken vital steps to make our operation extra strong and customer-centric.

“We expect this summer to be challenging for air traffic control, which will impact airlines.

“While we can not anticipate each disruption, we’ve got invested over £90m to arrange for elevated air visitors.

“We are confident that we have taken the right steps to better support passengers this summer season.”

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, stated: “Wizz Air has an abysmal record on meeting its legal obligations under consumer law, racking up millions in pounds in county court judgments after continually failing to appropriately reroute passengers from delayed or cancelled flights and then refusing to reimburse those passengers for its failure.

“It is correct the CAA is lastly stepping in but it surely desperately must be given stronger powers to quicker maintain airways to account.”