Ryanair asks the Italian government to cancel boarding fees

In 2004, a municipal surcharge on passenger boarding fees was introduced by the Italian government. The objective of this tax — one euro per passenger boarded — is 20% for the benefit of the municipality in which the airport is located and 80% to find the resources necessary to reinforce the security of airport installations and main stations. against international terrorism.

In reality, this tax only reaches the pockets of airport operators and only benefits passengers if the total amount of the tax exceeds 30 million euros annually. Any money below this threshold is ordinary Italian state tax revenue, which can be used for any purpose and for the benefit of anyone. The tax was suspended from August 2021 to December 2021 to help airlines.

For these reasons, Ryanair has once again called on the Italian government to remove this tax for all Italian airports and all airlines until 2025. The removal of this tax “would be crucial to stimulate the recovery of Italian tourism and guarantee that Italy remains competitive with other EU countries”. countries that are trying to attract airlines favoring the rapid recovery of the tourism sector,” the airline said in a statement. Boarding fees are payable directly by the carrier to the airport management company, but it is the passenger who is the real beneficiary of the economic burden represented by the boarding fees.

This aspect has been underlined on several occasions by the Irish company, as it is convinced that the removal of this tax would give a significant boost to regional connectivity for the benefit of millions of Italian passengers and local tourism. During the tax removal period, Ryanair launched 13 new routes and more than 20 additional frequencies on 17 existing routes, proving that this was a big incentive.

The Irish low-cost carrier said if the Italian government removed the surcharge, it would invest at least $4 billion in the Italian network over the next four years, creating more than 1,500 new jobs.

No refunds for Covid-positive passengers

The Irish airline refuses reimbursement of the flight to passengers who, having tested positive for Covid-19, cannot leave. Even in the face of presenting the positive molecular swab to prove the actual impossibility, Ryanair considers Covid “not a serious disease”. This question has been submitted to ENAC, the Italian civil aviation authority, which could open proceedings against Ryanair, and which could lead to sanctions.

The problem is that Ryanair, following a problem from a passenger, has limited itself to offering the customer the shift (not free) of the date of the flight. In Europe, unfortunately, no regulations provide for this type of case and the problem will therefore have to be solved by finding a bilateral agreement.

Parker joined AirlineGeeks as a writer and photographer in 2016, combining his lifelong love for aviation with a new passion for journalism. Since then, he has worked as a senior editor before becoming the site’s editor in 2020. A native of Dallas and an avid American traveler, he left the city’s rich aviation history behind to attend college in North Carolina. North, where he studies economics. .

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