Fury over Ryanair fee to cover use of wheelchairs

PEOPLE with disabilities yesterday criticised Ryanair’s decision to charge its passengers 73c to cover the cost of providing wheelchairs at four airports.

The charge at Dublin, Shannon, Stansted and Gatwick follows a court ruling in London which found the airline acted illegally by charging a user €25 for the use of a wheelchair.

Bob Ross, 54, paid 26 to use a wheelchair at Stansted Airport when he travelled from London to Perpignan in France in February 2002 and again on his return journey a month later.

He claimed the fee was discriminatory and something that no one should have been charged.

Judge Crawford Lindsay ruled Ryanair acted unlawfully by not ensuring that a wheelchair was provided free of charge for Mr Ross at Stansted Airport. The court awarded Mr Ross €1,955 in compensation.

The group People with Disabilities in Ireland (PWDI) condemned Ryanair’s price increase following the judgment.

PWDI chief executive Michael Ringrose said: “It is unfair to charge a vulnerable section of society for the use of wheelchairs particularly in the immediate wake of the European Year of People with Disability.”

Ryanair is appealing the decision which an airline spokesperson described as defective. The low budget air carrier insisted 80 of the 86 airports it operates from in Europe provide disabled people with wheelchairs in the terminal building.

“We wish to reiterate that Ryanair has never charged any wheelchair passenger for assistance at any airport including Stansted,” a Ryanair spokesperson said.

“Mr Ross was not travelling in a wheelchair in this case, and was therefore directed to the third-party service provider in Stansted, because the BAA Stansted do not provide this service free of charge.”

Mr Ross told the court he rarely used a chair, preferring crutches instead, but finds walking very painful.

The Equality Authority here confirmed last night it’s investigating a number of complaints similar to Mr Ross’s. Britian’s Disability Rights Commission also wants Ryanair to pay compensation to 35 people who have complained about paying the wheelchair charge.

If no compensation is offered the commission said it will start a group action against Ryanair.