Aviation authorities confirm Ryanair safety probe
Aviation authorities in Ireland have confirmed they are investigating Ryanair’s policy of charging passengers extra to sit in emergency exit seats amid fears that it may jeopardise passenger safety.
Their rules state that self-help emergency exit seats should be occupied by passengers who can open the doors in an emergency, but there are concerns that these seats on Ryanair flights are being left empty when passengers refuse to pay extra to sit in them.
Many UK airlines – including several charter carriers – also charge passengers a premium to sit in seats next to emergency exits, which offer more legroom, but the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK does not insist that these seats are occupied.
A CAA spokesman said: "There is nothing in the Operator’s Manual that we publish that specifies that the emergency exit row has to be occupied."
He said there was an obligation on UK airlines for cabin crew to provide a specific verbal briefing to the passenger seated nearest to the emergency exit. "All UK airlines comply with our operating guidelines," he added.
Ryanair, however, is registered in Ireland and must comply with Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) rules. The IAA said today: "It is (our) policy that seats at self-help emergency exits are occupied. Ryanair have initiated a policy of charging a premium for such seats and the IAA is in discussion with Ryanair as to how this new policy conforms to IAA requirements."
One Ryanair passenger told the Daily Mail he had been asked by a member of Ryanair’s cabin crew to make sure he knew how to operate the emergency exits, even though he was sitting in the row in front. There were no passengers sitting in the emergency exit row.
The IAA said it was not aware of a similar situation with any other Irish airline.
Ryanair said it was discussing the matter with the IAA.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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