Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary: Don't blame me for an ash cloud

The boss of Ryanair reacted furiously to a court ruling that airlines have an unlimited duty of care to passengers whose flights are delayed.

Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Europe’s biggest low-cost airline, said: “You can’t expect us to provide compensation for the world and his mother when we’re clearly prevented from flying.”

Ryanair had taken a test case to the European Court of Justice in a bid to seek a cap on airlines’ liability in the event of serious disruption.

It concerned Irishwoman Denise McDonagh, who claimed nearly £1,000 after spending an extra week in Portugal in 2010 as a result of the ash cloud. Her flight had cost £90.