German court decides in favor of Ryanair in dispute with passenger rights website

A German court has ruled that the legal services platform Flightright, which assists travelers in claiming compensation, cannot make disparaging statements about Ryanair. The Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg stated on Friday that the company is forbidden from asserting that the airline violates consumer rights.

Additionally, Flightright is no longer permitted to instruct clients to ignore any communication from the airline. The court set a penalty of 250,000 ($291,000) for each violation of this ruling.

Flightright specializes in pursuing compensation for passengers affected by significant flight delays, taking a commission for its legal services. The court also required the company to clearly disclose its additional 14% legal fee from the beginning of the process.

Under EU Air Passenger Rights regulations, travelers are entitled to 250 for delays on short flights up to 1,500 kilometers, and up to 600 for longer flights with delays exceeding three hours. Companies representing passengers can claim up to 40% of the compensation, according to Ryanair.

The Dublin-based airline praised the decision, which follows a precedent from Germany's Federal Court of Justice. Marketing head Dara Brady encouraged passengers to file claims directly with Ryanair to avoid extra charges, ensuring they receive the full compensation they are owed.

For those who prefer not to pursue claims themselves, Germany's Travel and Transport Arbitration Board offers a free service that resolves disputes in up to 90% of cases.

Author: Benjamin Carter