One More Thing:It might be the season of goodwill to all men but not at the office of the aviation regulator.

On Tuesday, the regulator sent final warnings to Aer Lingus, BMI Baby and Ryanair in relation to their failure to compensate customers for flight delays and cancellations.

In a letter sent by Niall O'Connor, the regulator's head of licensing and EU consumer protection, airlines were reminded of their obligation under EU law to provide passengers with free meals and refreshments, and in some case free lodgings for the night, in the event of a long delay or cancellation of a flight.

O'Connor's letter pulls no punches. "Kindly further note that non-compliance with a direction under the Aviation Regulation Act is an offence for which the carrier is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or, upon conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €150,000."

Tough talk but we can't imagine that Michael O'Leary, who has campaigned for regulator Cathal Guiomard to be sacked, is quaking in his boots.