Ryanair to sue government over security restrictions

Budget airline Ryanair is to sue the UK government for £3 million compensation following the introduction of tighter security measures.

Ryanair had given the government a week to return security procedures to normal, following the introduction of stricter measures in the wake of the discovery of an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights earlier this month.

Ryanair said that the new measures - which restrict the size of hand luggage and the items that can be carried in it - were "ineffective" and said that airports operator had described them as "unsustainable".

In a statement released on Friday, Ryanair said: "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's Chief Executive Michael O'Leary accused the Department for Transport of "undermining the credibility" of UK airports and "pandering to the extremists by continuing to require these nonsensical and ineffective measures".

He said: "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.

"Sadly, the DfT, by failing to return airport security to normal, is handing the extremists an undeserved and unnecessary victory."

Ryanair has submitted a claim for compensation to the Department for Transport under Section 93 of the Transport Act 2000. The airline said that it would donate any proceeds, if the claim was successful, to charity.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said that they did not believe that Ryanair had legal grounds to seek damages.

(KMcA)