A recent small claims court hearing in Balbriggan, Co Dublin revealed that nearly 100 passengers missed a Ryanair flight from Bordeaux to Cork last July due to a Microsoft IT outage. This outage forced the airline to resort to manual check-ins, resulting in some passengers being classified as no-shows despite being at the airport on time. Ryanair argued that it was not obligated to cover the costs of those who made alternate travel arrangements.

David Hickey from Cork initiated the case against Ryanair after his family of five missed their flight on July 19th, 2024. Despite checking in online, they were unable to check in their luggage at the airport due to the global IT outage affecting airlines. The flight departed without them, leaving the Hickey family and numerous others stranded at the airport.

Mr. Hickey sought reimbursement for the cost of their return travel to Cork via London, amounting to nearly €2,000. After multiple court appearances, a settlement was reached pending payment. However, Ryanair later informed Mr. Hickey that they would not be settling the case due to concerns that his wife might also file a claim, exceeding the small claims court limit.

During the hearing, Judge Stephanie Coggins asked Mr. Hickey to ensure that no further claims would be made by his wife to finalize the settlement. After confirming this, Judge Coggins was about to confirm the settlement when Ryanair's barrister, Jennifer Goode, stated that she had been instructed to defend the claim, contrary to previous agreements.

Ryanair's defense highlighted the airline's operational challenges if departures were delayed to accommodate late passengers or baggage. The court expressed disbelief that over 90 passengers were left behind on a fully-booked flight and questioned Ryanair's responsibility in such situations. While sympathizing with affected passengers, the airline cited EU regulations and case law to limit their liability.

Judge Coggins emphasized the need for Ryanair to take responsibility for the situation and acknowledged the costs incurred by passengers. She indicated that there should be an obligation on the airline's part and reserved time to consider her ruling on the matter.