Low-cost carrier Ryanair Holdings PLC said on Friday it had submitted a claim for just over 3 million pounds ($5.7 million) in compensation from the UK government after stepped-up airport security forced it to cancel flights, several news sources report. Ryanair lodged the claim which it said reflected losses from cancellations and lost bookings over the week of August 10 to 16, the airline said in a statement. However, the UK Department for Transport (DFT) said Ryanair had no legal grounds to seek compensation. Other airlines said they had no plans to seek damages from the UK government. 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 DFT said it would not roll back the security restrictions as Ryanair demanded, and said the Dublin, Ireland-based airline had no legal grounds to sue.
