Michael O'Leary

The Irish airline has decided to make a major change that will impact their passengers from 12 November onwards. Here’s everything you need to know about the new system

Ryanair passengers have been given a last-minute warning about a major change the airline is making in a matter of days.

Passengers flying with the Irish airline any time from 12 November onwards will need to follow a new rule – and not everyone is happy about it.

The budget airline has announced it is ditching physical boarding passes and going completely digital, which means paper print-outs will be a thing of the past. Travellers will now be required to show their boarding passes through the Ryanair app.

The company hopes to cut around 300 tonnes of paper annually by switching to digital, with Ryanair CMO Dara Brady explaining the airline settled on November 12 because it’s a quieter time for travel.

However, many have expressed concern about the potential challenges for elderly passengers who might not use the internet or possess smartphones.

Ryanair’s boss, Michael O’Leary, has now sought to reassure passengers with anxieties about the compulsory smartphone boarding passes. He said: “Almost 100 per cent of passengers have smartphones, and we want to move everybody onto the smartphone technology.

“The big concern that people have is: ‘What happens if I lose my battery or whatever, I lose my phone?’ reports Wales Online.

“If you lose your phone, no issue. As long as you’ve checked in before you get to the airport, we’ll reissue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge. But you have to check in before you get to the airport.

“Also, if your battery dies or something happens, once you’ve checked in, we’ll have your sequence number anyway at the boarding gate, we’ll take you, you’ll get on. So nobody should worry about it.

“Just make sure you check in online before you get to the airport, and then all will be fine.”

Guidance on Ryanair’s website echoes this, adding: “If you have already checked in online and you lose your smartphone or tablet (or it dies), your details are already on our system and you will be assisted at the gate.”

The website also emphasises the importance of completing their online check-in. “All Ryanair passengers will still receive email reminders to check-in online 48 and 24hrs pre-departure.

“If any passenger arrives at the airport but hasn’t checked in online (having ignored these reminders), they will still be required to pay the airport check-in fee.”

Currently, the fee is set at £55/€55 per passenger for most flights. However, passengers flying out of Spain are obliged to pay £30/€30, while those departing from Austria will be hit with a £40/€40 charge.

There are two exceptions to the new digital boarding pass rule; the first is passengers flying to Albania. Authorities there have insisted passengers present paper passes until March 2026, after which they’ve agreed passes can be digital.

Morocco has the same paper pass policy as Albania, however, it won’t be changing its rules to fit Ryanair’s new paperless policy. Michael O’Leary has confirmed the airline will make exceptions in this case and accept physical passes for flights to the African country.

The budget airline is making a big change to tickets at most airports

Ryanair is set to make a significant change to its ticketing system, effective from November 12. Starting from this date, the airline will only issue ‘100% Digital Boarding Passes’ (DBP), and physical tickets will no longer be accepted at most airports.

This scheme, initially scheduled for May 2025, seeks to help eliminate certain charges and save around 300 tonnes of paper each year, while allowing travellers to receive direct flight updates. But if you’re concerned about the practical aspects, don’t worry.

The Mirror has summarised three main questions and answers regarding the upcoming change, using official information from Ryanair. You can also learn more about the boarding pass change on the airline’s website here

1. How can I get a digital boarding pass?

Ryanair passengers can check in online at Ryanair.com or via the Ryanair App, which is available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. The Express reports that passengers should complete this process before arriving at the airport to avoid extra charges.

After check-in, a DBP will automatically appear in the Ryanair App. You should present this at airport security and the boarding gate before your flight. The budget airline stated that this method is ‘quicker, easier,’ and results in ‘less stress’ compared to using paper tickets.

2. What happens if my phone dies or I lose it before boarding?

Losing your mobile phone can be a stressful experience, but according to Ryanair’s boss Michael O’Leary, it won’t stop you from catching your flight.

In a conversation on The Independent’s daily travel podcast, he explained: “The big concern that people have is: ‘What happens if I lose my battery or what if I lose my phone?’

“…If you lose your phone, no issue. As long as you’ve checked in before you got to the airport, we’ll reissue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge.”

Even if your mobile runs out of juice, O’Leary pointed out that staff will have each passenger’s ‘sequence number’ at the departure gate. This means you should still be able to board without it, so ‘nobody should worry’.

Guidance on Ryanair’s website echoes this, adding: “If you have already checked in online and you lose your smartphone or tablet (or it dies), your details are already on our system and you will be assisted at the gate.”

3. What if the airport Wi-Fi is poor, or I have no mobile data?

Ryanair has reassured passengers that once they’ve completed online check-in, their DBP will be accessible offline within the Ryanair App. However, its website guidance emphasises: “All Ryanair passengers will still receive email reminders to check-in online 48 and 24hrs predeparture.

“If any passenger arrives at airport but hasn’t checked in online (having ignored these reminders), they will still be required to pay the airport check-in fee.”

Currently, the fee is set at £55/€55 per passenger for most flights. However, passengers flying out of Spain are obliged to pay £30/€30, while those departing from Austria will be hit with a £40/€40 charge.

Ryanair had said that 206 million of its passengers already use digital boarding passes, meaning that around 40 million journeys could be disrupted once the new rule kicks in

Fears are growing that people who struggle with technology could be blocked from boarding Ryanair flights.

The budget airline confirmed earlier this week that it will move to 100 per cent digital boarding passes from November 12. That means passengers who have bought tickets will not be able to download and print them prior to getting to the airport. This is an option that 20% of Ryanair passengers currently choose, according to the airline.

Ryanair had said that 206 million of its passengers already use digital boarding passes, meaning that around 40 million journeys could be disrupted.

The company’s boss, Michael O’Leary, said that his 86-year-old mother uses the Ryanair app to travel. However, the move has been met with criticism, with a number of campaign organisations accusing the airline of ageism.

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Groups including Age UK and Silver Voice said the move will make flying harder for those who don’t have access to a smartphone or who struggle with technology.

Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, told The Telegraph: “It’s a disgraceful move. They are effectively saying they don’t want older people as passengers. There’s a strong argument to say that it’s discriminatory.”

A number of concerned readers have written to the Mirror to express concerns about the change. One told us: “I have elderly in-laws who live in Spain. They won’t be able to download anything onto their phone. They’re not tech savvy, so what will happen when they travel to the UK? I appreciate the need to utilise technology, but that will not work for a lot of passengers.”

Another added, “This seems discriminatory to people, such as the elderly, who, for various reasons, are not able to use smartphones. By Ryanair’s own admission, some 10% of passengers do not use smartphones currently for boarding passes. It may backfire. Ryanair will lose these customers who will turn to alternative providers without such a policy.”

Mr O’Leary, who is 64 years old, was quick to downplay such fears. He said: “I’m old, and I travel from Ryanair on a very, very regular basis, and I use the Ryanair app, it is pretty simple, pretty easy to use.”

For those particularly concerned about the change, Mr O’Leary said that airline would be flexible, promising that “nobody would be cut off at the knees.” He said that it would be “reasonably forgiving” of people showing up with paper boarding passes through Christmas and into January, Belfast Live reported.

“The critical thing: If you’ve checked online before you get there and you lose your phone, we’ll have your name in the system,” he said.

“We will manually board you at the boarding gate so if your phone goes off, you lose your phone, your phone gets stolen, it is not going to make any issue as long as you checked in online before you got the boarding gate, which, by the way, would eliminate all the check-in fees at the airport.”

Mr O’Leary argued that it was patronising for people to suggest that the elderly would not be able to cope with the change.

“Actually, what you find is the old people firstly just get their kids or grandkids to make bookings for them, and then pretty quickly they’re adopting it themselves. And it is slightly patronising, this notion that old people can’t and won’t move to mobile technology or to the apps,” he said, Mail Online reported.

The change has been delayed by a week to November 12, to avoid UK and Irish half-term.

Ryanair chief marketing officer Dara Brady said: “To ensure a seamless transition to 100 per cent digital boarding passes for our customers, we will make the switch from November 12, which is traditionally a slightly quieter time for travel following the busy mid-term break period.

“Ryanair’s move to 100 per cent digital boarding passes will mean a faster, smarter, and greener travel experience for our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class “myRyanair” app, where passengers will also benefit from helpful in-app features, like Order to Seat and live flight information.”

Ryanair’s move to fully digital boarding passes follows other key ticket industries (such as festivals, music, and sport events) which have successfully switched to digital-only ticketing.

Ryanair has announced that it will be banning the use of paper boarding passes from November 3, with digital boarding passes replacing the paper version

Ryanair has changed the date that it will introduce a significant change that will impact all passengers.

The airline has decided to ban the use of paper boarding passes, which will no longer be accepted at the gate. Instead, digital boarding passes will become mandatory for all.

All travellers flying to or from any destination with Ryanair must download their boarding pass via the Ryanair app. These digital boarding passes will provide real-time updates to “minimise” disruption, store travel documents for “simple” check-in and offer access to features like Travel Assistant, live flight updates and Order To Seat.

Today, the budget airline announced that it “will move to 100% digital boarding passes from Wednesday, November 12, instead of Monday, November 3, ensuring a seamless transition for customers in the less busy travel period after the mid-term break.”

Are you concerned about the new policy? Comment below or email [email protected]

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Ireland’s mid-term break, like the UK’s half-term, takes place at the beginning of October this year.

Earlier this year, Michael O’Leary, the airline’s chief executive, announced his plans to eliminate almost all airport check-in desks, stating it would “create a smoother, easier journey for everybody”. Back in July, the airline estimated that roughly 25% of Ryanair passengers still rely on printed boarding passes.

However, not all countries are ready to accept digital boarding passes. According to Ryanair’s website, airports in Morocco and Turkey (except Dalaman), and Tirana airport in Albania do not yet accept mobile passes. If you’re travelling from or through these airports, you should download your boarding pass from your email confirmation or from the app, print it out and keep it handy.

Speaking to The Independent’s daily travel podcast, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said: “Between 85 and 90% of passengers show up with smartphones. Almost 100% of passengers have smartphones, and we want to move everybody onto that the smartphone technology. The big concern that people have is: “What happens if I lose my battery or whatever I lose my phone?”

He added: “If you lose your phone, no issue. As long as you’ve checked in before you got to the airport, we’ll reissue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge. But you have to have checked in before you got to the airport.

“Also, if your battery dies or something happens, once you’ve checked in, we’ll have your sequence number anyway at the boarding gate, we’ll take you you’ll get on. So nobody should worry about it. Just make sure you check in online before you get to the airport and then all will be fine.”

The airline claims that utilising the myRyanair app improves passengers’ journey as they gain access to various useful in-app tools and services.

The airline has disclosed plans for new routes for airline passengers looking for a holiday

Ryanair has announced four new routes in Portugal. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has unveiled four new routes in Portugal for the winter – including one to an ‘epic hidden gem’.

The airline’s new routes will see flights go from Porto to Gothenburg and Porto to Polish capital Warsaw. It will also see flights run from Faro to Krakow in Poland, and from Funchal to Shannon in Ireland.

Krakow is seen by many as an unheralded but beautiful destination for tourists with stunning castles in the city and surrounding area. It has a medieval Old Town and a rich history.

The Sunshine Seeker travel website describes the city as an ‘epic hidden gem’. In a glowing reference, it says “there’s a treasure trove of hidden gems waiting to be discovered off the beaten path.”

Charlotte, who runs the site, listed the breathtaking Zakrzówek Park and Lake, St. Joseph’s Church and Tyniec Abbey as all spots well worth a visit. She also named museums, galleries and markets – and drew attention to the city’s many moving landmarks to the Holocaust. At least three million Jewish Poles were killed during the Nazi occupation of Poland.

Ryanair and the move to new routes

The airline is omitting Lisbon from the list for new routes. This is because, according to Ryanair’s CEO, ANA, which operates most of the nation’s airports, admits to having reached maximum capacity in the country’s capital.

However, O’Leary insists that Lisbon airport can accommodate more traffic if it were given the slots for takeoff and landing permits that Portuguese airline TAP does not use. He said Montijo Airport, a new airport infrastructure in Lisbon, would be more viable than Alcochete, because it would be operational more quickly.

Meanwhile, Ryanair has bolstered its Madeira operations this winter by putting a third aircraft in Funchal (FNC) and adding a new route, part of 171 routes across Portugal. The news comes as man air carriers have increased their routes this winter to Spain.

That has happened after Ryanair said it would cut around 600,000 seats to and from the country, as well as about 400,000 seats to and from the Canary Islands. That change is part of a disagreement with another airport operator.

Vueling, Iberia Express, and Binter have added 434,000 extra seats compared to last autumn and winter already. Other airlines, including Volotea and Wizz Air, have also expressed a desire to fill part of this gap.

Ryanair has blamed the Spanish airport operator Aena for the move – and criticised its decision to raise the fees it imposes on airlines. Ryanair has, in addition, shut its two-aircraft base in Santiago, located in northwest Spain, and put a halt to all flights to Vigo and Tenerife North.

Ryanair’s chief executive, Eddie Wilson, said AENA’s decision to ramp up airport charges by 6.62% as “excessive”. The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, said if Ryanair leaves certain airports, other airlines will take on that capacity. “The king is dead, long live the king!” Puente said – attacking the Irish airline’s alleged ‘blackmail’.

AENA’s president, Maurici Lucena, accused Ryanair of distorting the figures. He said the airline was attempting to ‘make more money’ at the expense of taxpayers.

A travel expert has advised people heading off on holiday to use a handy tool to check their luggage amid Ryanair’s plans to pay staff to check for oversized bags

Holidaymakers worried about being stung by hefty excess baggage fees at the airport have been advised to carry out a vital check using two “trustworthy” items. A travel expert issued the guidance following news that Ryanair is thinking about increasing bonuses for staff who catch passengers with overweight bags.

The subject of extra fees has been a sore spot for money-conscious travellers in recent years given different airlines have different allowances. And recent comments by Michael O’Leary, the airline’s CEO, will do little to calm the nerves of those flying off on their summer holidays.

To avoid getting stung by such fees, Paul Stewart, the founder of travel company MyBaggage, suggested people check their luggage’s weight at home using two simple items instead of using the facilities at the airport.

“Investing in a trustworthy luggage scale and measuring tape is the best course of action,” he said. “Check your bags at home rather than at the airport. In order to account for scale differences between your home scale and the airline’s equipment, I always advise packing a little under the weight limit.”

The travel guru added: “If at all possible, opt for soft-sided luggage rather than hard cases because the former are more accommodating if you have to fit them into sizers. Consider wearing your heaviest shoes and jacket while travelling rather than packing them, and pack your heaviest items in your carry-on rather than checked luggage.”

Luggage scales can be bought for as little as £5.99 on Amazon and avoid the risk of being fined £70.

In addition to weighing your luggage at home, Paul also suggested the time-honoured tradition of reading up each airline’s policies as they can vary between carriers and routes, reports Bristol Live. He said: “Document the size and weight of your luggage at home as proof in case of any disagreements.”

Stewart’s advice came after O’Leary discussed the possibility of improving incentives for staff in an attempt to relieve the pressure of excess baggage on his airline.

In an interview with RTE’s Morning Ireland, the low-cost carrier’s CEO said: “We are happy to incentivise our [staff] with a share of those excess baggage fees, which we think will decline over the coming year or two. It is about €1.50 [£1.30] per bag – and we’re thinking of increasing it, so we eliminate it.”

At present, airline employees earn around £1.30 per item for flagging oversized bags, which is capped at £70 per month.

“We’re flying largely full flights, about half the passengers can bring two bags and the other half can only bring one – because that’s all that fits in the plane. We’re already struggling with that amount of baggage,” he shared.

Ryanair current permits each traveller to take one small personal item aboard, which must slot beneath the seat, weigh no more than 10kg and conform to measurements of 40cm x 20cm x 25cm.

Passengers who opt for the priority boarding service at additional expense can bring the same sized item, plus a 10kg case (55cm x 40cm x 20cm), which goes in the overhead compartment. This upgrade also grants flyers first access to the aircraft via the priority boarding lane at departure gates.

If crew members determine a traveller’s luggage fails to comply with its rules, passengers could be fined £70.

However, the Ryanair CEO’s bonus comments alarmed Stewart, who argued this strategy was merely “the tip of the iceberg” and feared other budget carriers would soon jump on the bandwagon.

“When airline management implements bonuses for spotting baggage abuses, staff enforcement will obviously become more stringent,” he said. “As for Ryanair, I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. Once other low-cost airlines realise the potential for profit, they will most likely follow suit.

“Instead of giving passengers the benefit of the doubt, staff are now actively seeking out reasons to impose fees, and the definition of ‘suitable baggage’ is getting more and more restrictive. Travellers must now pack and measure much more precisely as a result of this change.”

The days of being charged additional fees for your hand luggage on flights could soon be a thing of the past – at least in the EU

UK holidaymakers have been warned of a significant change to hand luggage rules on flights to Europe. The BBC has highlighted a considerable shift in hand luggage regulations for European Union flights. The era of being slapped with extra charges for your cabin baggage on flights may soon be over – at least within the EU.

On June 24, 2025, legislators voted in favour of a proposal that would allow passengers to bring a small carry-on bag weighing up to 7kg (15.4lbs) onto their flight free of charge, even on budget airlines. This development comes as Ryanair‘s chief, Michael O’Leary, has fired back at ‘unimplementable’ proposals that could permit each plane passenger to bring two free cabin bags on board.

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This development comes as Ryanair‘s chief, Michael O’Leary, has fired back at ‘unimplementable’ proposals that could permit each plane passenger to bring two free cabin bags on board, reports Birmingham Live.

During Ryanair’s earnings call for the first quarter of 2026, its CEO vehemently criticised the ‘impractical’ move. As per Travel Weekly, he stated: “The idea that everyone is entitled to two free bags on board is unimplementable – they don’t fit in the aircraft.

“There’s not room on largely full aircraft for one small carry-on bag and one large trolley bag. About 50 per cent of the passengers can bring a trolley bag and we do that using the priority boarding service.

“Any rules that would alter that would be infringing EU rules guaranteeing the freedom of airlines to set pricing and policies, and we don’t believe that will happen.”

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Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of Airlines For Europe, Europe’s largest airline association, expressed her concern: “Europe’s airline market is built on choice. Forcing a mandatory trolley bag strips passengers of that choice and obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need,”.

She further questioned: “What’s next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don’t.”

Meanwhile, Mr O’Leary announced his consideration to increase the incentive to “eliminate the scourge of passengers with excess baggage. I think it’s unlikely to play out but there’s clearly going to be some kind of negotiation between the parliament and the commission on passenger rights.”

By eliminating carry-on baggage fees, airlines will make travelling abroad easier. Even better, it will save them from spending hundreds of pounds to send off a small piece of luggage.

Former flight attendant Kristina Galvydyte has lifted the lid on some of the shocking things she’s witnessed on planes and the holiday destinations that are “horrendous” for flight attendants

A former flight attendant has exposed three top holiday destinations favoured by British tourists as “horrendous” to fly to. In an eye-opening discussion about the less glamorous side of commercial travel, ex-air hostess Kristina Galvydyte, 32, opened up about some of the most appalling incidents she’s encountered 30,000ft in the skies.

The ex-flight attendant shared hair-raising tales either experienced personally or recounted by colleagues during her stint in the industry. Incidents involving intoxicated passengers “screaming”, possible drug activity in lavatories, verbal assaults, overdoses and cases of sickness were among the alarming stories mentioned.

Talking to the Telegraph, Kristina, who was described as “no-nonsense” and ultimately decided to hang up her wings at a British airline, pinpointed certain hotspots as exceptionally troublesome.

She singled out Ibiza, Turkey, and the Canary Islands, especially Tenerife, for having particularly challenging flights – dubbing them “horrendous” to travel to.

In the year leading to September 30, 2024, it was found that one in five summer visitors to Ibiza were from the UK, with a hefty 833,259 Britons landing on the party isle.

Statistics coming out of the Canary Islands show British nationals represented 40% of all overseas tourists in 2024. This translated into a whopping 6.3 million individuals picking the Canaries for their break, showing an increase of half a million compared to the year before.

In February, Turkey saw a 16.6 per cent surge in UK holidaymakers in 2024 compared to the previous year, with over 4.4 million Brits soaking up the sun. Meanwhile, last year, Spanish residents were reportedly fuming over “boozy British tourists” wreaking havoc on flights.

A flight from Manchester to Ibiza was forced to divert after a drunken Brit downed a bottle of vodka, assaulted crew members, and even spat at fellow passengers.

Ryanair, the low-cost carrier caught up in the chaos, has since announced measures to curb such antics. CEO Michael O’Leary has called for a two-drink limit per passenger, stating: “It’s not that easy for airlines to identify people who are inebriated. As long as they can stand up, they’ll get through. Then, when the plane takes off, we see the misbehaviour.”

Last month, Ryanair announced it would fine passengers removed from flights due to their behaviour a minimum of £500 and will continue to pursue civil damages.

In April, Brits jetting off to Spain were alerted to a law that could land them with fines up to £25,000. This regulation targets noisy parties in tourist accommodations across the Balearic Islands, which includes Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.

The law could mean people would be hit with fines of £1,283 to £2,567 for any parties in tourist homes that generate a nuisance for neighbours between 11pm and 8am.

Indeed, as per Diario de Mallorca, repeat offenders could be slapped with a fine of up to £25,000. At the time of the report, Josep Castells, a deputy from Més per Menorca, anticipated the bill to be put forward for a vote in the first half of 2025.

The budget airline says the new rules will be the ‘minimum’ punishment and it will continue to pursue passengers for civil damages

Ryanair passengers causing a ruckus on flights may now be slapped with a hefty £500 fine and shown the exit before take-off, as the airline intensifies its crackdown on bad behaviour.

In a move to quell inflight disturbances, Ryanair has declared that this will serve as the “minimum” penalty and pursue troublemakers for civil damages. The policy is intended to create “stress-free” environment that is free from disruption from a minority of passengers.

Ryanair has said in-flight disruptions plaguing all carriers, but they’re taking a firm stand to protect their customers and staff from from unruly behaviour. The strict measures are designed a “deterrent” for passengers, safeguarding smoother journeys.

“It is unacceptable that passengers are made to suffer unnecessary disruption because of one unruly passenger’s behaviour,” a spokesperson for Ryanair stated, as reports the Express.

“To help ensure that our passengers and crew travel in a comfortable and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption caused by a tiny number of unruly passengers, we have introduced a £500 fine, which will be issued to any passengers offloaded from aircraft as a result of their misconduct.

“While these are isolated events which happen across all airlines, disruptive behaviour in such a confined shared space is unacceptable, and we hope that our proactive approach will act as a deterrent to eliminate this unacceptable behaviour onboard our aircraft.”

In an effort to combat in-flight safety risks, the airline has been pushing for a limit on the number of alcoholic beverages served at airport bars, advocating a maximum of two per passenger, with Ryanair calling for action to ensure “a safer travel experience”.

The budget carrier has underscored the serious implications of unruly passengers, who can cause expensive diversions, impacting both the airline’s operations and other customers’ plans.

Pointing towards a pattern of problem drinking at certain airports, Ryanair has notably marked four UK locations – Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh – as hot spots for pre-boarding alcohol consumption, with CEO Michael O’Leary publicly supporting the introduction of stringent measures.

O’Leary, speaking to the Telegraph, made his position clear last year on the need for responsible drinking prior to flying: “We don’t want to begrudge people having a drink. But we don’t allow people to drink-drive, yet we keep putting them up in aircraft at 33,000 feet. As long as they can stand up and shuffle they will get through. Then when the plane takes off we see the misbehaviour.”

Ryanair’s current guidelines permit passengers to bring duty-free alcohol with up to 70% ABV in the cabin, but they must refrain from consuming it mid-flight.

Duty-free alcoholic purchases must be kept sealed and not accessed until reaching the final destination, a rule imposed by the airline to reduce the risk of disruptive conduct while airborne.

Travellers should note that Ryanair personnel conduct bag inspections prior to boarding for specific routes, particularly those flying to popular party spots, such as certain Greek islands and Ibiza, notorious for anti-social occurrences.

On the wider issue of alcohol consumption at airports, a Ryanair spokesperson stated: “It is time that European Union authorities take action to limit the sale of alcohol at airports.

“Airlines like Ryanair already restrict and limit the sale of alcohol on board our aircraft, particularly in disruptive passenger cases. However, during flight delays, passengers are consuming excess alcohol at airports without any limit on purchase or consumption.”

The spokesperson added: “We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks (using their boarding pass in exactly the same way they limit duty free sales), as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft, and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe.”

Families were unable to fly home to the UK from their half term holidays in Majorca with easyJet and other airlines after restrictions were imposed due to poor weather in Europe

British holidaymakers were stranded in Spain after a major storm caused air traffic restrictions.

The airline was hit by a string of cancellations on Sunday and Monday, with multiple easyJet flights cancelled from Palma Airport in Majorca to UK airports including Birmingham and London Gatwick.

Countless British families have found themselves stranded in Majorca, unable to return from their half-term breaks as easyJet and other carriers grapple with imposed restrictions following dismal weather across Europe, which were cited as “outside [of the airline’s] control”.

Shortly after the groundings Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s CEO, warned of the potential of record flight delays over summer 2025 due to what he branded as “shoddy ATC services”. The airline chief has a long record of criticising ATCs across Europe.

The full extent of the chaos is not yet clear. More than 120 flights were delayed and around ten cancelled on Sunday, with a further seven on Monday. Palma Airport seems to be operating normally today.

Here is our guide on what you should do if you’re impacted by a delayed or cancelled flight while on holiday.

Were you impacted by the flight issues? Email [email protected]

Your airline has a duty of care

If your flight is delayed and you’re stuck at the airport, or it’s been cancelled and you’ve opted to be re-routed at the earliest opportunity but you’re stuck at the airport or abroad, your airline has a legal ‘duty of care’. Whatever the reason for the delay or cancellation. That means it must provide you with a number of things that include:

• Regular updates on what’s going on.
• Food and drink, or vouchers to buy them.
• Accommodation (if needed).
• A ‘means of communication’

You are owed a refund

The good news is that if your flight has been cancelled, for whatever reason and for however long before take-off, you have the legal right to choose between the following:

• A refund for the flight that was cancelled.
• OR an alternative flight (airlines call this re-routing) to your destination.

Your compensation rights

Under EU and now UK law, if your flight’s delayed for more than three hours, and it is the airline’s fault, there is a good chance you will be entitled to between £210 and £520 in compensation. The same rule applies to some cancelled flights too.

However, in this case, the weather seems to be at fault – or easyJet is claiming it is at least. Given such things are out of the airline’s control, easyJet is not on required to pay compensation to customers.

Situations when you could claim compensation include:

• The pilot was sick and not replaced.
• The crew or pilot was late.
• The flight was cancelled because of under-booking.
• The airline staff were on strike.
• Technical problems caused by something routine, such as a component failure or general wear and tear.

Your rights if you’re on a package holiday

If your flight is cancelled or delayed and you’ve booked a package holiday, you have the same rights as those who booked the trip themselves. It is well worth contacting your package holiday provider however, as they may be able to offer extra assistance. Also, read the terms and conditions of your trip – there may be additional protection slipped in there.

Travel insurance

The refund and compensation rules apply to all passengers who fly or were due to fly on a UK or EU-regulated flight. That doesn’t preclude you from getting extra coverage through an insurance policy, some of which pay out in the event of delays or cancellations. Make sure to check the terms of your policy.

What have easyJet said?

An easyJet spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, due to the impact of widespread thunderstorms across Northern Europe yesterday, some flights were unable to operate as planned. We did all we could to minimise the impact of the weather disruption on our customers, providing options to rebook or a refund their flights as well as providing hotel accommodation and meals for these who required them. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority and while this was outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused.”