Ryanair has
lost its appeal against a ban in Italy on charging travelers to sit next to
accompanying children under 12 or people with disabilities. The dispute between
the airline and Italian authorities regarding the issue has been ongoing for a
few years, with the dismissal now coming from Italy's top administrative court.
Ryanair's
implementation was banned by the Italian Civil Aviation Authority. However,
Ryanair had filed a lawsuit to annul the regulation on the grounds that it did
not charge additional fees and that this ban was an interference with the
company's financial freedom.
For passengers
who wish to choose where they sit, the carrier charges extra which can be
anywhere from €22-30. However, according to the Council of State, "the
need for proximity of the seats between minor and accompanying person is
clearly connected with the safety obligation." The Council of State
states that it is the responsibility of the airline, which cannot charge extra
for it.
Eventually, the
court upheld the lower court's decision on the grounds that the need for seat
proximity between the minor and their companion is clearly connected to the
safety requirement.
