Ryanair is appealing a decision by Italy’s antitrust authority to fine it €4.2 million (US$5.1 million) for not refunding customers for flights cancelled after June 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis, the airline stated on Wednesday, May 26.
“We have instructed our lawyers to appeal this decision,” Ryanair wrote in an emailed statement. It stated that the airline had acted in full compliance with EU261 requirements and guidelines on passenger rights in the context of the pandemic.
“Customers affected by these cancelled flights have been offered all options in compliance with EU law, including free movies, refunds in the form of cash or vouchers as an additional choice, subject to the passengers acceptance,” Ryanair stated.
Italy’s antitrust regulator stated on Monday that Ryanair, British airline easyJet, and Spain’s Volotea had behaved in a “seriously improper manner” by using the pandemic as a motive to cancel flights even after travel restrictions had ended, and by issuing vouchers rather then refunding customers.
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