Aviation regulator Cathal Guiomard said yesterday he was prepared to take court proceedings against airlines who failed to compensate passengers for delays to their flights as required under EU law.

Mr Guiomard said eight complaints against three airlines - which he refused to name - received this year by his office had yet to be settled because the carriers have refused to pay cancellation compensation.

"We are about to issue a final warning to the airlines," Mr Guiomard said. "If the final warnings are not effective, we will then have the option of issuing a direction to airlines and to take court proceedings."

Mr Guiomard said airlines could face fines of up to €150,000 if the matters go to court, but he expressed the hope that legal action would not be necessary.

Figures from the regulator's office show that 77 passenger complaints were received between January and August relating to flights taken from Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

Under EU law, passengers are entitled to certain benefits if they are denied boarding due to overbooking; are delayed for more than two hours; have a flight cancelled for reasons within the control of the airline; or have their booking downgraded.

Benefits range between free meals, phone/fax access, accommodation, rerouting, a refund or financial compensation.

Some 32 of the complaints were made against Ryanair, while 17 were lodged against Aer Lingus. Between them they carried 14.5 million passengers from the three Irish airports.

Mr Guiomard also said final warning notices were issued on November 1st to 53 airlines for failing to properly display passenger rights information at check-in desks.