Hungary's highest court has recently upheld a fine of $545,000 against Ryanair. The decision comes after the airline was found to have violated certain regulations. As a result, Ryanair will be required to pay the fine in full. This ruling serves as a reminder to all airlines operating in Hungary to adhere to the country's laws and regulations. It also highlights the importance of maintaining compliance with local regulations in order to avoid penalties and maintain a positive reputation within the industry. Going forward, it is imperative that all airlines operating in Hungary take the necessary steps to ensure full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Background
The Curia of Hungary, the country’s supreme court, has upheld an earlier decision of the Budapest municipal government office, according to which Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) must pay a HUF200 million forint (USD545,000) fine due to an alleged violation of consumer protection laws, the municipality said in a statement on October 15.
An “official consumer protection procedure” the Budapest municipal government office launched in April 2020 found that the low-cost carrier had “failed to provide and inform” passengers about the delay of a flight from Budapest to Gran Canaria on February 18 of the same year, committing “an unfair commercial practice.”
Decision by the Budapest Municipal Government Office
The government office underlined in its short statement that its task as a consumer protection authority is to protect passengers who have been treated unfairly by an airline.
Ryanair did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ch-aviation.
Separate Consumer Protection Fine
Ryanair has also been facing a separate consumer protection fine in Hungary, for HUF300 million (USD818,000), related to a departure tax the national government imposed last year.
However, in early June 2023, a ruling by the Metropolitan Court of Budapest annulled this fine, confirming that the airline could lawfully pass the tax on to consumers in line with European Union regulations, a judgement Ryanair welcomed.
-Source(ch-aviation)
