MOSCOW, March 22 - RAPSI. Airlines must bear responsibility for flight delays and cancellations resulting from force majeure circumstances, according to Yves Bot, Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Air carriers must provide all-around support to the passengers of canceled flights even in case of force majeure circumstances. Airlines must arrange free accommodation, hot food and drinks and reliable communications to these passengers, Advocate General points out.

Meanwhile, airlines will not be obliged to pay compensation if they can prove the flight was canceled due to reasons beyond their control.

A report was conducted into the issue in connection with a lawsuit filed by a passenger against Ryanair. The plaintiff's flight to Dublin in 2010 was canceled due to the eruption of the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano. The plaintiff asserted that she was forced to stay in Portugal for another week before she could return to Ireland. The passenger maintains that the airline did not pay her food or accommodation expenses and seeks 1,700 euro in compensation.