Ryanair may face legal action in Ireland over its policy of not providing wheelchair transport to passengers who require it, following the taking of a similar case in Britain.
The landmark court case is being brought against Ryanair over its decision to charge a passenger suffering from cerebral palsy and arthritis £18 sterling for the use of a wheelchair.
The UK case, which is also being brought against airport operator BAA, follows a complaint by Mr Bob Ross, who travels frequently with Ryanair from Stansted Airport in Essex to Perpignan in France. His case is being supported by the Disability Rights Commission, a British statutory body.
The DRC has written to both Ryanair and BAA, giving them 14 days' notice of legal action. The case will be heard in the Central London County Court, seeking removal of the £18 charge and unspecified damages.
Mr Niall Crowley, chief executive of the Equality Authority, told The Irish Times that a number of people with disabilities had approached the authority with issues relating to Ryanair, including the question of charges for using wheelchairs. "We are in correspondence with them to clarify their policy," he said.
In a statement, Ryanair said that it provided full assistance to wheelchair-users free of charge and that only four wheelchair-users were allowed on any one flight.
"In order to qualify for assistance, the passenger must be travelling in his or her own wheelchair. Passengers requesting assistance who do not have their own wheelchair will be directed to the wheelchair service-provider at the relevant airport. These companies offer specialised assistance for a nominal fee, which is payable directly by the passenger to the handling company.
"Only six of the 56 airports Ryanair fly into charge for this service. Ryanair feels that the airport should cover the cost of facilitating the carriage of the passenger through the airport."
A Ryanair spokeswoman said that an independent company provided this service in Dublin Airport for a fee.