MILAN, May 26 (Reuters) - Ryanair is appealing a
decision by Italy's antitrust authority to fine it 4.2 million
euros ($5.1 million) for not refunding costumers for flights
cancelled after June 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis, the
airline said on Wednesday.
"We have instructed our lawyers to appeal this decision,"
Ryanair said in an emailed statement. It said the airline had
acted in full compliance with EU261 requirements and guidelines
on passenger rights in the context of the pandemic.
"Customers affected by these cancelled flights have been
offered all options in compliance with EU law, including free
moves, refunds in the form of cash or vouchers as an additional
choice, subject to the passengers acceptance," Ryanair said.
Italy's antitrust regulator said on Monday that Ryanair,
British airline easyJet and Spain's Volotea had behaved
in a "seriously improper manner" by using the pandemic as a
motive to cancel flights even after travel restrictions had
ended, and by issuing vouchers rather then refunding customers.
The regulator has also fined easyJet and Volotea.
($1 = 0.8179 euros)
(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; Editing by David Clarke)