Ryanair threatened with legal action for 'misleading passengers' over their rights
The Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority has expressed his anger at Ryanair after accusing them of "not being straight with consumers" about their rights.
The Stansted-based budget airline announced on Wednesday that it was cancelling a further 18,000 flights, as well as suspending more than 30 routes this winter - including flights from Stansted to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The CAA have now launched enforcement action against Ryanair for “persistently misleading passengers” by not telling them they're entitled to be re-routed on rival airlines.
Ryanair have vowed to meet with the CAA and comply with "whatever requirements they ask us to."
Travel expert Simon Calder believes the crisis will not only damage the airline's reputation, but could only have a negative impact on Stansted as well.
"The Ryanair cancellations are really serious for Stansted," he said.
"Although it is only effecting Glasgow and Edinburgh, those are exactly the sort of routes the airport needs to be seeing because they are so important for business travellers.
"With Ryanair abandoning them completely for the winter, it certainly is going to make Stansted look a little less appealing."