EUclaim, the flight compensation company, has published data identifying the airlines that received the most compensation claims in 2016. EasyJet topped the list with 15,499 enquiries, followed by Ryanair with 9,887 enquiries — a rise of around 60 percent compared with 2015.
British Airways ranked third with 8,117 claims. Thomas Cook Airlines came fourth with 7,382 claims, and Thomson Airways rounded out the top five with 5,500 claims.
Tjitze Noorderhaven, UK manager at EUclaim, said many of the complaints were driven by weather-related delays and cancellations, which remain a major cause of disruption for passengers.
The data also highlighted regional variations in disruptions. Norwich Airport recorded the highest number of cancellations last year. At London Heathrow, the number of delays and cancellations increased by about 30 percent, while London Gatwick experienced an even larger rise of roughly 42 percent.
EUclaim’s figures reflect passenger concerns across both low-cost and full-service carriers. The increase in claims to certain airlines may be linked to operational issues, severe weather events and broader patterns in airport congestion. For travellers, the data underlines the importance of knowing passenger rights and the compensation processes available when flights are delayed or cancelled.
Airlines and airports facing rising numbers of claims are under pressure to improve communication, rebooking procedures and on-the-ground support to reduce passenger disruption. Better contingency planning for extreme weather, clearer policies on re-accommodation and faster claims handling could help lower complaint levels in future years.
For consumers, checking flight conditions ahead of travel, allowing extra connection time and understanding airline policies can help reduce the risk and stress of disruptions. When delays or cancellations do occur, passengers should document the situation and review their entitlement to compensation under applicable regulations.