Ryanair ‘Asks Britons For £6,000 To Fly Home From Terror-Hit Brussels’

Ryanair has demanded that a group of Britons pay £6,000 to return home from terror-hit Brussels.

At least 31 people were killed in bombings in the Belgian capital at Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro station on Tuesday morning.

Many Britons in Belgium have had to make alternative travel arrangements to try to return home.

But one group of visitors claim budget airline Ryanair has asked them to pay £6,000 to fly back to the UK.

The 28-strong group, ranging in age from 18 to 80, are in Brussels on an official tour of the European Parliament organised by Labour MEP Afzal Khan.

Councillors are among the party from the north-west of England who flew into Brussels South Charleroi Airport with Ryanair this morning and were due return on Wednesday night.

Councillor Chris Webb, who represents the Northenden ward at Manchester City Council, said the group wanted to return home early on Tuesday because they fear for their safety.

But he said he was told by staff at Ryanair’s customer service desk at the airport that it would cost about £6,000 to change their flights.

“It’s absolutely atrocious. This is a stressful situation as it is,” he said.

“Obviously it doesn’t compare to the tragedy of the lives lost. But all I want is for us to get a flight home.

“There’s a lack of understanding. Their first reaction was ‘pay for a flight home’, not 'you already have a flight home, you are a customer’.”

Bill Esterson, Labour MP for Sefton Central, raised a point of order in the House of Commons to urge ministers to “intervene and suggest to Ryanair and other carriers that all efforts are made to help those who want to come back to this country in a reasonable way”.

Ryanair said the group had paid £20 each for the flight departing on Wednesday, and that the passengers were offered to change their flight at a cost of £60 for the “change fee” and £154 for the difference in fares.

It added: “Ryanair has been prioritising free changes and transfers for passengers travelling on flights to and from Brussels Zaventem today and tomorrow.

“We regret any inconvenience caused to this group but our priority today remains re-accommodating our disrupted Brussels Zaventem passengers, and all other passengers are free to avail of our change facility in the normal manner.”

(Picture: Rex)