Court dismisses £300m airline compensation claim

Judge Richard Davison has dismissed Claire Smyth’s High Court claim for airlines to proactively compensate passengers, estimated to be worth £319m, stating it was “not in the interest of consumers.” Smyth sought to represent passengers unaware of their rights for 116,000 flights from 2016 to 2022 after her own flight was cancelled. The judge noted that the “dominant motive” for the claim was financial gain for its backers, particularly John Armour, rather than consumer interests. He highlighted the excessive deductions proposed from compensation and the significant burden on airlines to identify affected passengers. The judge concluded that Smyth’s motivations lacked transparency and prior involvement in consumer rights advocacy.