Ryanair was the subject of legal action by the CAA when it declined to pay compensation to those affected by industrial action in 2018, with the airline pleading the strikes were extraordinary circumstances.

The High Court told the airline to pay up in April 2021 and the Court of Appeal has now upheld this. The airline has said it will now go to the Supreme Court to seek to overturn the order. 

Ryanair said: “We have instructed our lawyers to appeal this decision.”

Paul Smith, CAA director, said: “Ryanair has refused to pay compensation to passengers affected by industrial action taken by its pilots in 2018. We believed that these passengers were, in fact, protected by law and that Ryanair could not claim its delayed and cancelled flights were ‘extraordinary circumstances’. The Court of Appeal has today upheld the High Court’s agreement with our interpretation of the law.

“We would like to advise consumers that Ryanair may seek to appeal this judgement to the Supreme Court. Affected customers should therefore await further information before pursuing their claims.”

The news comes as the Department for Transport consults on passenger rights and a possible extension of the CAA’s remit.

“Given consumers have been waiting for clarity on this subject since 2018, this process reinforces the need to modernise our powers,” said Smith. “In this respect, we welcome the government’s recent consultation on strengthening airline passenger rights.”

The ruling came as Ryanair came last in a Which? survey of airline quality, with refunds a particular bugbear.