Ryanair seeks compensation for security crackdown

Low-cost carrier Ryanair said it had submitted a claim for just over £3 million in compensation from the UK government after stepped-up airport security forced it to cancel flights.

Ryanair lodged the claim which it said reflected losses from cancellations and lost bookings over the week of August 10 to 16, the airline said in a statement.

However, the UK Department for Transport (DFT) said Ryanair had no legal grounds to seek compensation. Other airlines said they had no plans to seek damages from the UK government.

Hand luggage restrictions and heightened security screening were introduced at airports by the UK government this month following what it said was a bomb plot, forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights.

"The longer these additional, yet nonsensical and ineffective security measures remain at the UK airports, then the more UK passengers and visitors will suffer unnecessary queuing, delays and flight cancellations," Ryanair chief executive officer Michael O'Leary said in the statement.

Ryanair said it would donate any compensation received to charity.

The DFT said Ryanair had no legal grounds to sue.

"We continue to face a serious security threat and we are not going to compromise security," a DFT spokesman said.

"Aviation security measures are directed under the Aviation Security Act 1982 which does not have any provisions for compensation."

Ryanair approached British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and other airlines last week urging them to sue the government for compensation.

A BA spokeswoman said the airline did not plan to sue the UK government.