A court in London has today ruled that both Ryanair and Stansted Airport Authority are responsible for providing a wheelchair service.
The ruling was made in the Court of Appeal after Ryanair had been ordered to pay damages to a disabled man charged for using a wheelchair at Stansted Airport in Essex.
Ryanair lost its appeal that the claim against it should be dismissed but the judges ruled that Stansted also unlawfully discriminated against the traveller and should share the liability over damages and interest.
Mr Bob Ross (54) who has cerebral palsy and arthritis, was awarded £1,336 (€1,940.64) compensation, which included the £36 cost of hiring the wheelchair on the inward and outward journeys to France, the £20 cost of the tickets and £1,000 for injury to his feelings after a judge at London County Court ruled in January this year that the airline had breached the Disability Discrimination Act.
The airline said it was disappointed that the Court of Appeal did not establish that the British Airport Authority was 100 per cent responsible - as was the case with the owners of all other public buildings - for wheelchair access.
The airline added that the Court of Appeal's decision to clearly impose a 50 per cent responsibility on the BAA would be welcomed by all airlines using BAA airports, as well as by disabled passengers.
In keeping with this announcement today, Ryanair said it would be reducing its wheelchair levy by 50 per cent, and would continue its campaign to persuade the BAA monopoly airports in London to provide a free of charge wheelchair assistance service to the disabled.
The airline said this would be in line with custom and practice at 87 of its 93 European airports, and also in line with the current European Union draft disability paper.
Ryanair spokesman Mr Paul Fitzsimmons said: "We welcome the decision by the Court of Appeal to clearly and unambiguously impose a responsibility upon BAA to provide for wheelchair access through its terminal buildings.
"Today's decision vindicates Ryanair's decision to appeal the Ross case, and highlights again that Ryanair is fighting on behalf of disabled passengers to force those few airport managers, such as the BAA, to provide free of charge wheelchair access in a manner similar to most other European airports."
A spokesman for Stansted said: "Stansted Airport believed it was properly fulfilling its responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act and apologises to Mr Ross for not doing more to prevent the discrimination against him.
He went on: "Stansted Airport will take the necessary steps to ensure airlines including Ryanair treat passengers with reduced mobility such as Mr Ross equally with all other customers.
"The Court's decision will not affect airport operator BAA's arrangements with other airlines and handling agents which already provide assistance to passengers with reduced mobility without charge."
PA