Italian authorities accuse Ryanair of ‘numerous violations’ of Covid-19 rules
Italy’s national aviation authority ENAC has warned Ryanair that it could face being banned from Italian airports if it fails to cease its ‘repeated violations’ of Covid-19 regulations
A letter from ENAC written to Ryanair states that the airline, “systematically does not comply with the provisions envisaged in Italy to limit the risk from coronavirus on board aircraft.” ENAC explains that social distancing and the wearing of face coverings onboard aircraft is not enforced. If the airline fails to address this, ENAC says that it will impose a rule prohibiting the aircraft from filling more than half of its seats. And in the event that Ryanair enacts ‘further non-compliance with the obligations’, ENAC warns that the airline could be grounded in Italy.
But Ryanair has responded, saying that ENAC’s accusations are ‘factually inaccurate’. The airline insisted: “Ryanair complies fully with the measures set out by the Italian government, and our customers can rest assured we are doing everything to reduce interaction on both our aircraft and at airports to protect the health of our passengers.”
ITIJ is sorry to note that this is not the first instance of an airline being accused of failing to comply with new Covid-19 health and safety regulations. And with customers looking to book cheaper holidays due to potentially needing last minute cancellations due to Covid-19 outbreaks, seats on low-budget airlines like Ryanair will likely be filling up faster than those of its more pricey competitors (and as the airline’s passenger numbers for the first seven months of 2020 were down 35 per cent year on year, the airline will no doubt be trying its best to recoup its losses where it can).
But, whether or not the accusations are true, this is no sustainable resolution. Travel insurance offerings should offer more inclusive cover, and airlines should be adhering to strict safety protocols to mitigate the spread of the virus. ITIJ notes that there have been countless reports of airlines doing a sterling job of enforcing health and safety regulations, enforcing mandatory health declaration forms for customers, promoting onboard hygiene initiatives for customers, and even offering Covid-19 medical cover to passengers. There are economic solutions that adhere to Covid-19 health and safety regulations, and ones which help both the aviation industry recover and improve traveller confidence.