The Italian civil aviation authority ENAC has fined the low-cost airlines Easyjet, Ryanair, Wizz Air and Volotea. The named carriers are accused of an Italian requirement that provides that accompanying persons of people with disabilities and minors must be allocated a seat directly next to them. And for free.

According to ENAC, the lowcosters mentioned at the beginning are said to have violated this requirement and also to have ignored corresponding requests. Now fines between 10.000 and 50.000 euros are due. However, the airlines concerned can appeal against them.

To make matters worse, the airlines had still not implemented the requirements of the aviation authority ENAC. The fine for Ryanair is particularly high, because the agency accuses this provider of attempting to circumvent the order in order to be able to continue to collect surcharges. A clause in the General Conditions of Carriage is said to have been changed. Ryanair filed for a suspension of the regulatory requirement in court, but a court refused. The oral hearing is scheduled to take place on September 8, 2021.

Easyjet, Wizz Air and Volotea are making their comments understandable and want to comply with ENAC regulations. The systems have since been adapted. The competitor Ryanair, who rejects the allegations of the Italian aviation authority as "false and misleading", expresses a completely different view. Appropriate measures had already been taken on August 13, 2021 to enable accompanying persons of minors or people with disabilities to receive free seat allocation. The ENAC is also accused of “classifying interference in the airline's commercial freedom as a security problem”.