Ryanair loses wheelchair appeal

The no-frills carrier Ryanair has lost its appeal against a ruling that it is obliged to provide free wheelchairs for passengers who need them – but will be allowed to split the cost of providing wheelchairs with the airport operator BAA. The Central London County Court originally ruled that the carrier should bear the cost of paying someone to push wheelchair-bound passengers through Stansted airport, following complaints by one of its customers. As reported, Bob Ross brought the original case against Ryanair after twice being charged £18 to use a wheelchair at Stansted. According to The Independent, the Court of Appeal awarded him £36 for the wheelchair, £20 for his return ticket to Perpignan – where he was travelling when the original dispute took place – and £1,000 for “injury to his feelings”. The newspaper reports that Ryanair was disappointed that BAA was not made to pay the whole amount, highlighting the fact that other operators of public buildings would do so. The carrier further pointed out that 87 of the 93 European airports it serves provide a free wheelchair service, and reportedly said that it would reduce by 50 per cent the wheelchair charge it adds to its ticket prices. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd