Ryanair fined €3m by Italy over ash chaos

RYANAIR has been slapped with a €3 million fine by the Italian aviation authorities over the airline’s failure to assist passengers stranded after flights were cancelled due to volcanic ash last month.

The Italian Civil Aviation Authority, known as ENAC, said it issued the penalty on the Irish airline because it had not provided the mandatory assistance such as food, drink, accommodation and telephone calls as required under EU legislation governing cancelled flights.

ENAC said it had found 178 cases where Ryanair passengers had not been given their proper entitlements after flights were cancelled from Rome’s Ciampino airport between April 17 and April 22 last due to ash erupting from the Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajokull.