Ryanair GBP 3m Comp Claim
Ryanair Holdings PLC
25 August 2006
'WE MUST NOT BE MOVED BY TERRORISTS'
RYANAIR CALLS ON UK DfT TO SHOW LEADERSHIP AND RESTORE AIRPORT SECURITY TO IATA
NORMS
SUBMITS £3M. COMPENSATION CLAIM - PROCEEDS TO GO TO CHARITY
RELEASES 1m. SEATS AT 99p. TO KEEP BRITAIN FLYING
Ryanair, the UK's largest passenger airline, today (Friday, 25th August 2006)
repeated its call for the UK Government to adopt the same defiant response it
took after the 7/7 London Underground attack, by not giving in to terrorism, and
restore UK airport security to the same IATA norms that are followed at every
other European international airport, and on every inbound flight to the UK.
Ryanair reconfirmed that the 'additional' security measures introduced by the
DfT are ineffective and are - according to the BAA - 'unsustainable'. These
measures achieve nothing other than give rise to large queues, frequent delays
and will result in further flight cancellations over the coming busy August Bank
Holiday weekend.
Ryanair highlighted that these 'additional' security measures are nonsensical
and ineffective, as follows:
1. The reduced carry on luggage limits apply only to outbound UK
flights, but not to UK inbound flights. In security terms, this is
illogical.
2. Reducing the carry on luggage limits to a 'large briefcase' when the
internationally accepted IATA carry on bag is only 20% greater, does not
add in any way to airport or aircraft security. A large briefcase is no
more or less safe that the IATA standard carry on bag, all of which are
processed through the same airport X-Ray security machines. In security
terms, this is nonsensical.
3. The continuing requirement to body search every second passenger
passing through UK airport X-Ray security machines (instead of the
normal one in four) means that many families, elderly couples and young
children are now being body searched as potential terrorists and
extremists. This is patently nonsensical. The hard pressed and
overworked security staff should not be wasting time body searching
passengers who are patently not terrorists or extremist suspects. In
security terms, this is ineffective and unnecessary. The BAA airports
have admitted that these additional security measures are unsustainable.
4. The policy of confiscating bottles, cosmetics and toiletries at UK
airport security points, has no effect on aircraft security,
particularly when all passengers are then allowed to buy these products
again in duty free and bring them on board UK outbound aircraft. In
security terms, this makes no sense whatsoever. If as the Department for
Transport claims, British citizens are really in danger from toiletries,
cosmetics and liquids, then they should be banning these products in
airport duty frees, as well as on board inbound UK flights, the London
Underground and on Eurotunnel as well.
Calling for the UK Government to show some leadership, and restore UK airport
security to the IATA norm, Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary said:
'Ryanair has released another 1 million seats for sale on our website at
just 99 pence (plus taxes) to keep Britain flying. Sadly the UK DfT is
doing nothing to restore normality. The longer these additional, yet
nonsensical and ineffective security measures remain at the UK airports,
then the more UK passengers and visitors will suffer unnecessary
queuing, delays and flight cancellations. The DfT is undermining the
credibility of UK airport security and pandering to the extremists by
continuing to require these nonsensical and ineffective measures. The
DfT has failed to explain how these measures add to or improve airport
security.
'We should not be moved - the way to defeat terrorism is to get back to
normal. It is a pity that the UK Government has so far failed to adopt
the same rock solid approach it took when it successfully restored the
London Underground to normal within two days of the 7/7 attacks. It is
now two weeks since the Government successfully averted the alleged
terrorist/extremist attack at the UK airports, and it is time to return
UK airports security to the same IATA norms which apply at every other
international European airport, and which have successfully prevented a
terrorist/extremist attack at a UK airport or a UK aircraft for over 25
years. Sadly the DfT, by failing to return airport security to normal,
is handing the extremists an undeserved and unnecessary victory!.
'We have today submitted a claim for compensation to the UK Department
for Transport under Section 93 of the Transport Act 2000. The value of
the claim is just over £3m. and reflects Ryanair's losses from
cancellations and lost bookings over the week of 10-16 August only. The
purpose of this claim is to encourage the DfT to restore UK airport
security to the effective IATA norm, and to prevent similar breakdowns
at UK airports during future security scares by putting in the necessary
police and army personnel to carry out the extra security checks
whenever the Government decides to double or quadruple them again,
without notice.
'As Ryanair's sole motive in this action is to defeat terrorism by
returning airport security to normal, and since we don't wish to be seen
to profit in any way from suing the Government, all proceeds received
from a successful claim under the 2000 Transport Act will be donated to
Ryanair's nominated charity, Orbis, which is fighting to eliminate
avoidable blindness in the developing world by operating the world's
only flying eye hospital (www.orbis.org.uk)'.
Ends. Friday, 25th August 2006
For further information
please contact:
Pauline McAlester Peter Sherrard
Murray Consultants Ryanair
Tel. +353-1-4980300 Tel. +353-1-8121212
www.ryanair.com
This information is provided by RNS
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