Juan Ameen
Ryanair refunds departure tax only on request
Low-cost airline Ryanair is only reimbursing passengers who specifically request a refund of the recently abolished €23 departure tax. The tax, levied on all passengers originating from Malta, was lifted from November 1 after the European Commission declared it discriminatory.
Later that month, some passengers complained they were still being charged the departure tax by the airline for air tickets purchased before November 1 but for flights taking place later.
The complaints prompted the Civil Aviation Department to launch an investigation to establish whether the flight operator was still illegally charging the tax.
After several letters of complaint and articles highlighting the issue in The Times, Ryanair chief operating officer Michael Cawley said the airline will refund any tax collected on bookings made between July 11 and October 17 for flights after October 31.
However, the airline did not automatically refund everyone. Replying to questions with a one-line statement, it said it had reimbursed all those who had requested a refund.
When asked to provide figures on how many people had made the request, Ryanair said it did not have any other statistics available.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
12 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
J.Scicluna
Feb 9th 2009, 16:16
@Jesmond Chetcuti
Not to defend Air Malta, but OUR beloved Government is still charging US exorbitant fuel surcharge on electricity bills!!! Surely, you do not expect a government-owned company to remove the fuel surcharge before its owner does?!
Celine Grech
Jan 22nd 2009, 10:24
Here is the address I had written to for the Ryanair refund:
Ryanair, Customer Service Department, PO Box 11451, Swords, Co Dublin, Ireland.
It was the address given by the chairman in his letter to The Times in November.
Jesmond Chetcuti
Jan 22nd 2009, 09:31
Not to defend Ryan Air,but,anyone noticed that our beloved Airmalta is still charging FUEL SURCHARGE for the rest of the year ,when all other companies have removed it.That is what I call a rip off,nearly 50 euros for a flight to Heathrow,disgrace.
Andrew Zammit Manduca
Jan 21st 2009, 14:00
This is typical of Ryanair. The funny thing is that if it was Air Malta who would have done something like this the story would never end and most probably they would have gotten sued as well. It seems that since Ryanair are a low-cost airline they have the right to rip off people.
R.Zammit
Jan 21st 2009, 13:32
@P.Zammit
Though what you say may be true to dreamers (the law was such in the period you mention), what Ryanair did was against the law.
Many customers were not aware that they had been blatantly ripped off by Ryanair. Ryanair have all the necessary information. They should do the right thing and refund ALL passengers without delay.
P Zammit
Jan 21st 2009, 12:43
Why is everyone just picking on Ryanair? A Departure Tax refund is also due to ALL those passengers who booked flights originating from Malta between 1st. May 2004 and 31st. October 2008.
Mark Hefford
Jan 21st 2009, 11:56
They will only refund if flight was booked until 17th October - as i booked mine on 22nd October i will NOT get a refund - typical Ryanair!
A Marsh
Jan 21st 2009, 11:11
I tried to contact them in many ways but still have not receive the refund. Celine Grech, can you tell mehow you got through to ryanair please
Tony Mercieca
Jan 21st 2009, 11:09
Why can't I get a refund if I bought the tickets before July 11 ??
M Camilleri
Jan 21st 2009, 10:24
Who are Ryanair trying to fool? If they are customer-friendly they should contact all passengers who are entitled and refund the money. This is what serious companies do.
C Attard
Jan 21st 2009, 10:07
And how does one contact Ryanair to ask for a refund? On their website they neither give an email address nor a phone number who one can call from Malta/Luxembourg...
Celine Grech
Jan 21st 2009, 09:45
Following Mr. Cawley's letter in The Times some time back in November, wherein he had requested passengers to write to Ryanair for a refund (and include a copy of the air ticket), I had duly written as per instructions and within 2 weeks the money was refunded.