Ryanair announce suspension of Italian domestic flights from 23-Jan-2010

Since Ryanair operates a 100% web check-in policy, it is imperative for the safety and security of all Ryanair flights, that all Ryanair passengers agree at the time of booking, that they will produce either a passport or an EU/EEA National ID card at the boarding gate prior to the boarding of their flight. These safety and security procedures have worked satisfactorily for many years across all of Ryanair's 1,000 routes for both domestic and international flights throughout the European Union.

Ryanair was therefore surprised and disappointed that ENAC, the Italian Aviation Authority, without consultation or discussion with Ryanair, unilaterally introduced the above Ordinanzas on 11^th -12^th Nov'09, which interfered with and undermined these well established procedures. ENAC's Ordinanzas threaten to imprison Ryanair's handling agents, if they refuse travel to passengers flying with unapproved forms of ID including AT/BT Cards, Employment ID's or Italian Fishing Licences. Since these many other forms of ID do not meet international security standards, the only impact of ENAC's Ordinanzas is to significantly reduce the safety and security of Ryanair's passengers and its flights on domestic Italian routes.

Ryanair cannot allow its approved safety and security procedures - which are agreed by all passengers at the time of booking with Ryanair - to be interfered with and undermined by unlawful and inappropriate Ordinanzas by ENAC which reduce passenger and aircraft safety/security. Ryanair will cease operating domestic flights from the above Italian airports from Saturday 23^rd Jan (i.e. with one month's notice), and these flights will only be restored if Ryanair can be certain that the safety and security of its operations will not be undermined by ENAC's unlawful interference.

Ryanair calls on all passengers to complain about ENAC unlawful interference in the safety and security of Ryanair's operations to the Director General of ENAC, Mr Alessio Quaranta, at segreteria.dg@enac.gov.it.

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said:

"We sincerely regret any inconvenience that this measure will cause to our Italian domestic passengers. However it is entirely wrong of ENAC to introduce lower safety/security measures on Italian domestic flights than the safety and security measures which already operate successfully on all Ryanair's intra-EU flights and Ryanair's domestic flights in every other EU country. Since these ID requirements are agreed by all passengers, there is no justification for ENAC to interfere in Ryanair's security process.

"Ryanair's passport/ID card policy has been approved by every other EU country, including ENAC itself some four years ago. ENAC's unlawful insistence that Ryanair should accept other (less secure) forms of ID on Italian domestic flights, which our crews and our handling agents may be unfamiliar with, reduces safety and security in a manner which is unacceptable to Ryanair, our crews and passengers.

"Ryanair regrets this latest attempt by ENAC to unlawfully interfere in the manner in which Ryanair operates its flights, or to alter agreements which are freely entered into between passengers and Ryanair at the time of booking. We will be appealing this ENAC Ordinanza in the Consiglio di Stato and remain hopeful that the Consiglio di Stato will dismiss this unlawful attempt by ENAC to interfere in Ryanair's operations and to reduce the level of safety and security enjoyed by all Ryanair passengers and flights across Italy."