Ryanair said today it had submitted a claim for just over £3 million sterling (€4.43 million) in compensation from the UK government after increased airport security forced it to cancel flights.
Ryanair said it had lodged the claim with the UK Department of Transport and said it reflected losses from cancellations and lost bookings over the week of August 10th to 16th.
Hand luggage restrictions and heightened security screening were introduced at airports by the UK government this month following what it said was a bomb plot, forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights.
"The longer these additional, yet nonsensical and ineffective security measures remain at the UK airports, then the more UK passengers and visitors will suffer unnecessary queuing, delays and flight cancellations," Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said in a statement.
Ryanair said it would donate any compensation received to charity.
The carrier approached British Airways (BA), Virgin Atlantic and other airlines last week urging them to sue the government for compensation. BA said it would not sue.