Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy.</s>Ryanair scrapped 82 flights on Sunday, the start of a six-week program of cancellations it's making as it seeks to reduce a backlog of crew vacation required by Irish regulators before the end of the year.

"We have messed up in the planning of pilot holidays and we're working hard to fix that," Kenny Jacobs, Ryanair's chief marketing officer, said in a statement Saturday.

In the statement, the Dublin-based carrier said it expected to cancel 40 to 50 flights daily, "with a slightly higher number this weekend."

Ryanair will offer refunds or alternative flights to affected customers over the period, it said in a statement on Friday, adding that the cancellations, which amount to about 2 percent of its network, won't have an impact on earnings in September and October.Between 308,000 and 385,000 passengers could be impacted over the period, according to data compiled by Bloomberg based on the airline's passenger statistics.

Ryanair is mandated by the Irish Aviation Authority to bring time off for the staff in line with the calendar year from January 1, requiring it to distribute the backlog before the end of the year. That's left the carrier without enough pilots and flight attendants to man its full fleet of Boeing Co. 737s until the start of its winter timetable in November.

"We have operated a record schedule and traffic during the peak summer months of July and August but must now allocate annual leave to pilots and cabin crew," spokesman Robin Kiely said in the Friday statement.

"We apologise sincerely to the small number of customers affected by these cancellations, and will be doing our utmost to arrange alternative flights and/or full refunds for them."</s>Ryanair is to cancel up to 50 flights a day for the next six weeks.

The carrier says the cancellations up to the end of October are because of a backlog in the annual leave of staff.

The airline says the backlog of annual leave must be allocated before the end of this December in order to switch to a calendar year system from January 1.

The new system will run from January to December, in a change which Ryanair says was required by the Irish Aviation Authority.

Affected customers will be contacted directly and offered alternative flights or refunds.

Ryanair says the cancelled flights accounts for 2% of its daily flights, which number more than 2,500. Between 40 and 50 flights a day will be cancelled.</s>Fianna FÃ¡il Spokesperson on Transport Robert Troy has accused Ryanair of "failing in their duty of care to passengers" after the airline announced it would cancel up to 50 flights a day for the next six weeks.

"I'm really very disappointed in the manner in which this decision has been carried out and communicated to passengers," he said.

"Passengers intending to travel today or over the weekend werenât given any warning to allow them make alternative arrangements. I do feel that Ryanair have failed in their duty of care to their customers.

"I am calling on Ryanair to publish this weekend all planned flight cancellations for the period in which this policy will be in force and to streamline their refunds procedure to ensure that discommoded customers do not have to wait for their money any longer than is absolutely necessary."

Ryanair is to cancel up to 50 flights a day for the next six weeks.

The carrier says the cancellations up to the end of October are because of a backlog in the annual leave of staff.

The airline says the backlog of annual leave must be allocated before the end of this December in order to switch to a calendar year system from January 1.

The new system will run from January to December, in a change which Ryanair says was required by the Irish Aviation Authority.

Affected customers will be contacted directly and offered alternative flights or refunds.

Ryanair says the cancelled flights accounts for 2% of its daily flights, which number more than 2,500. Between 40 and 50 flights a day will be cancelled.</s>London: Ryanair Holdings Plc is canceling 40 to 50 flights a day for the next six weeks as it seeks to reduce a backlog of crew vacation required by Irish regulators before the end of the year.

The Dublin-based carrier will offer refunds or alternative flights to affected customers over the period, it said in a statement Friday, adding that the cancellations, which amount to about 2 percent of its network, won’t have an impact on earnings in September and October. From 308,000 to 385,000 passengers could be impacted over the period, according to data compiled by Bloomberg based on the airline’s passenger statistics.

Ryanair is mandated under the Irish Aviation Authority to bring time off for the staff in line with the calendar year from Jan. 1, requiring it to distribute the backlog before the end of the year. That’s left the carrier without enough pilots and flight attendants to man its full fleet of Boeing Co. 737s until the start of its winter timetable in November.

“We have operated a record schedule and traffic during the peak summer months of July and August but must now allocate annual leave to pilots and cabin crew,” spokesman Robin Kiely said in the statement. “We apologize sincerely to the small number of customers affected by these cancellations, and will be doing our utmost to arrange alternative flights and/or full refunds for them.”

The move will also help bring up punctuality back up to 90 percent by providing additional standby aircraft, after on-time performance fell below 80 percent in the first two weeks of September. The delays have been prompted by air traffic control issues in France, the U.K., Germany and Spain, as well as thunderstorms, it said in the release.

Flights are operating as usual for customers who haven’t received emailed communication from the carrier, Europe’s biggest discount airline said in an update Saturday. Ryanair has been flying its 189-seat planes at record load factors, with 12.7 million customers in August and an occupancy rate of 97 percent. Bloomberg</s>The travel plans of hundreds of Irish passengers have been hit by the cancellation of an estimated 2,000 Ryanair flights.

The airline is cancelling up to 50 flights every day for the next six weeks.

They say it is because it has to allow staff to take a backlog of leave by the end of the year.

The budget airline also blamed Air Traffic Control restrictions and is trying to restore its punctuality record.

Ryanair says it only affects 2% of its schedule.

They have urged customers to check their emails for information regarding cancelled flights.

Below is the list of Irish flights which have been cancelled by the airline for Saturday and Sunday of this week.

In a statement, Ryanair said: "Flights are operating as scheduled unless an email confirming a cancellation has been received. We advise customers to check the email address used to make their booking.

"Cancellation notices for flights cancelled up to and including Wednesday 20 Sept have been sent to affected customers, and we will continue to send regular updates."

The Commission for Aviation Regulation has said some passengers who have had their flights cancelled by Ryanair may be entitled to compensation, "depending on the notice period" given by the airline.

"If you have been affected by the Ryanair programme of flight cancellations you are entitled to a choice of refund or rerouting. Compensation may also be payable depending on the notice period Ryanair has given you.

"Passengers who remain unclear about their entitlements, or who have further queries, should contact the Commission's office at info@aviationreg.ie or on 1890 787 787 or + 353 1 6611700."

More information on your rights as a passenger when your flight is cancelled is available here.</s>Ryanair to cancel 40-50 flights per day for six weeks to improve punctuality

Budget airline Ryanair is cancelling 40 to 50 flights every day for the next six weeks in a bid to improve its punctuality, but many passengers have been left stranded after being given "no notice" about the cancellations.

The Irish-based airline said strikes in Europe, air traffic control issues and bad weather had caused its punctuality level to drop to "unacceptable" levels, and that it also had a backlog of staff leave to clear by the end of the year.

"Ryanair's on-time performance has declined from 90 per cent to under 80 per cent over the past two weeks, a figure that is unacceptable to Ryanair and its customers," the airline said in a statement.

The cancellations could affect up to 400,000 passengers, who will be offered alternative flights or refunds.

The airline cancelled 80 flights on Saturday and 82 on Sunday, leaving many passengers stranded when they were told via text message that their flights had been scrapped.

"We got no notice and have to stay an extra three days in Rome with no help or support from Ryanair," one Twitter user said.

"We're out 400 euro ($600) already and we still have to get to Monday before the next available flight. It's madness. I'll never fly Ryanair again."

Another Twitter user said they found out their flight was cancelled by checking the website on the morning of their flight.

"We're due to fly at 10:00am and still haven't received an email and it's on the website the flight is cancelled! Never fly with them again," the user wrote at 7:00am.

Ryanair has not confirmed which other flights will be cancelled over the next six weeks, causing angst for many customers who have already booked travel with the airline.

"Release a list of flights with more than 24 hours' notice please, so people can actually arrange alternative ways to travel," one Twitter user said.

"Publishing the cancelled flights for the next two days… why not publish them all? Shambles of a company," said another.

Ryanair said the cancellations, which make up less than 2 per cent of their 2,500 daily flights, would improve the "operational resilience" of their schedules.

"We apologise sincerely to the small number of customers affected by these cancellations, and will be doing our utmost to arrange alternative flights and/or full refunds for them," the airline said.</s>Ryanair is to cancel up to 50 flights a day until the end of October

Ryanair is cancelling 40 to 50 flights a day for the next six weeks, the airline has announced.

It is thought that up to 9,000 passengers flying with the low-cost airline are to be affected up until the end of October.

The airline has stated it is to “improve its system-wide punctuality” after their 90 per cent of flights arriving on time drops to 80 per cent in recent weeks.

Whilst the cuts affect just 2 per cent of flights, many are unhappy after being left with failed holiday plans.</s>Ryanair customers have slammed the budget airline after announcing it will cancel up to 50 flights daily for the next six weeks in a bid to improve punctuality.

The company said air traffic control (ATC) delays and strikes, bad weather and a backlog of annual leave to be taken by pilots and cabin crew had led to punctuality falling to below 80% over the last two weeks.

A spokesman said this figure was "unacceptable" and reducing 2% of scheduled flights until the end of October would help improve performance and allow staff to take holiday.

If the airline cancels 40 flights per day for six weeks at a load factor of 90 per cent, approximately 285,000 journeys would be affected.

The airline apologised to affected customers, who it said will be offered alternative flights or refunds.

But passengers took to social media to complain to the company.

Ryanair to cancel 50 flights every day - and here's the reason why

Some customers said last-minute cancellations had left them out-of-pocket due to non-refundable accommodation costs, or with no choice but to book expensive alternative flights or transport.

Others said they had been left stranded in their holiday destination.

Many urged Ryanair to publish a list of all flight cancellations, so they can make alternative travel plans. rather than at short notice.

Writing on the airline's Facebook page, Maria Joanna Suquitana said guests travelling to Italy for her brother's wedding had their flights cancelled just hours before they were due to depart.

She wrote: "We were forced to rent a van from Germany and drive 16 hours because we just can't trust to fly with you again. Most stressful days of our lives."

Karen Naughton Brill said her daughter's 21st birthday present of flights to Amsterdam had been "ruined" when they were cancelled with less than 12 hours notice.

She wrote: "She's gone to bed in tears, rang hotel, can't get refund too short notice, same with parking, Anne Frank house tickets etc etc all non-refundable."

Olivia Poole said her flight on Sunday was cancelled "with no explanation".

She wrote: "We've shelled out five times our original flight price for last minute, incredibly overpriced flights with another airline as your next available flights were on the day we're due to fly back.

"I will be going to any length required to receive the compensation as per EU legislation."

Facebook user Harriet Kathryn Ross wrote: "What they need to do is confirm and publish a schedule of which flights will be cancelled over the next six weeks.

"So customers have enough time to make alternative plans. Ryanair it's wrong to leave people in suspense at the last minute. It's not fair

Furious Twitter user Luce Steb, hit out after her parents' 25th wedding anniversary was "completely ruined by Ryan Air cancelling their flights 24 hrs before".

Another affected passenger, Jamie Barnes, tweeted: "Ryanair cancelled my flight and no other flights available on Monday to gatwick. Live agents don't work. What am I supposed to do?"

The Dublin-listed budget airline next week celebrates the fourth anniversary of its Always Getting Better campaign, which Chief Executive Michael O'Leary has described as an effort to stop "unnecessarily pissing people off".

Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers sent emails to the first affected passengers on Friday, giving them the choice of a refund or an alternative flight.

The airline said it would waive a 40 euro (£35) surcharge normally levied to change flights.

A Reuters reporter, whose flight from Dublin to Barcelona on September 18 was cancelled on Friday, was offered a choice of a surcharge of 250 euros (£219) to take an earlier flight on September 18 or 60 euros (£52) to take a flight on September 19.

Ryanair said its on-time ratio in recent weeks had been impacted by air traffic control strikes and weather disruptions.

It also said it was trying to deal with a backlog of crew leave, which must be allocated before the end of the year.

While it currently calculates crew leave from April to March, regulators are forcing it to calculate it from January to December from the start of next year, it said.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said: “We have operated a record schedule (and traffic numbers) during the peak summer months of July and August but must now allocate annual leave to pilots and cabin crew in September and October (while still running the bulk of our summer schedule).

"This increased leave at a time of ATC capacity delays and strikes, has severely reduced our on-time performance over the past two weeks to under 80%.

"By cancelling less than 2% of our flying programme over the next six weeks, (until our winter schedule starts in early November) we can improve the operational resilience of our schedules and restore punctuality to our annualised target of 90%.

"We apologise sincerely to the small number of customers affected by these cancellations, and will be doing our utmost to arrange alternative flights and/or full refunds for them.”</s>Budget airline Ryanair has caused outrage after it announced last night that 40-50 flights per day wold be cancelled for the next six weeks.

The move is designed to improve “system-wide punctuality” which the airline admitted had fallen below 80 per cent in the first two weeks of September, through a combination of air traffic control capacity delays and strikes, weather disruptions and “increased holiday allocations to pilots and cabin crew”.

Read more: Michael O'Leary says Ryanair will swoop in with a binding offer for Alitalia

Ryanair said it had operated at record schedule and traffic levels during July and August, but this had led to a “backlog of crew leave” as the airline's holiday year transitions from its current April start to a calendar year.

“By cancelling less than two per cent of our flying programme over the next six weeks (until our winter schedule starts in early November), we can improve the operational resilience of our schedules and restore punctuality to our annualised target of 90 per cent,” said Ryanair's Robin Kiely.

However, travellers who had booked flights with Ryanair were furious at being left without transport.

Some claimed they were left “stranded” as the replacement flights they were offered were for several days later.

Even customers who had not received a message to say their flight was cancelled vowed never to book with Ryanair again, claiming their holiday had been ruined due to the “uncertainty”.

Read more: Ryanair scraps two carry-on bag policy and reduces hold luggage fee
Irish low-cost airline Ryanair cancels 82 Sunday flights as the first step in a six-week program that will eliminate 40 to 50 flights daily to wipe out its crew vacation backlog in order to meet Irish Aviation Authority requirements by the end of this year.