Ryanair Fly Stranded Passengers To Madrid - For €100

It has emerged that Budget airline Ryanair has this morning told stranded holidaymakers it would provide flights from the isolated Canary islands to Madrid for a cool €100.

As thousands of passengers desperately search for a way home during the continued airspace ban, Ryanair has announced its offer to fly them to the Spanish capital at the costly sum where they will have to make the rest of the journey at their own expense.

The Ryanair plan emerged as they told passengers who had outstanding flights, which the no frills carrier cannot honour because of the airspace ban, it would agree to fly them to Madrid "free of charge using Manage My Booking".

However, it added that passengers who had opted for a refund from Ryanair, but still find themselves on the Canary Islands, would have to take a "special" one way fare of €100 in order to get to mainland Europe.

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said: "Any disrupted Ryanair passenger on the Canary Islands now has the choice to fly to Madrid so that they may continue their return journeys by road, rail or ferry.

"Ryanair passengers who have suffered disruptions due to the recent volcanic ash airspace closures can now transfer to these extra flights on Wednesday and Thursday free of charge, subject to availability.

"A limited number of seats will also be available for just €100 for all other disrupted passengers who need to get from the Canary Islands to the Spanish mainland."

Meanwhile, Aer Lingus has said it estimates the disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud has cost the airline between €15-20 million.

The Irish carrier said it is losing between €4-5 million a day since flights were grounded last Thursday.

Around 1,100 flights have been cancelled by Aer Lingus since the ban came into force.

The airline said it had substantial cash reserves and could withstand a sustained closure of airspace.

(DW/GK)