Ryanair ordered to pay compensation for Catania-Malta flight delay

A judge in Catania has ordered Ryanair to pay 500 euros in compensation to two passengers following a flight delay on the Catania-Malta route. The flight, FR368, occurred on July 9, 2024, and arrived at its destination over four hours later than scheduled.

The ruling, issued by the Catania Justice of the Peace, clarifies a significant legal point regarding passenger rights under EU Regulation 261/2004. The court determined that there is no statute of limitations for such claims in the Italian system, but rather a two-year expiration period (decadenza). Because the legal action was initiated in February 2025 for a July 2024 flight, it was deemed timely.

The airline did not contest the delay's merits or provide evidence of exceptional circumstances that would exempt it from liability. Consequently, the court granted the full claim, awarding 250 euros to each passenger.