Bailiffs have boarded a Ryanair aircraft at Linz airport in Austria after the airline refused to pay compensation to a passenger whose flight was delayed. The action followed a court order requiring Ryanair to pay €890 (£742) in legal costs and compensation to an unnamed woman for a delayed flight two years ago.
The bailiff entered the plane, which was bound for London, on Monday and fixed a seizure sticker to the cabin when the crew were unable to settle the debt. The sticker, known as a “cuckoo sticker”, gives the court legal control over the aircraft, which was allowed to continue operating under set conditions. The court can sell the Boeing 737 at public auction if the debt is not paid by a deadline.
The dispute began in 2024 when a flight from Linz to Mallorca was delayed by 13 hours. The passenger, who was forced to pay for an alternative flight, claimed a refund and compensation under aviation regulations. Ryanair failed to pay, and the passenger took the case to court, which ordered the airline to pay the sum plus interest and legal costs. When Ryanair did not respond, the passenger asked Austrian authorities to take enforcement action.
A spokesperson for Linz airport confirmed that a bailiff had been instructed by the district court of Traun to carry out an official act. The bailiff asked the crew to hand over the €890, but since Ryanair operates cashless flights, they were unable to comply, so the seizure notice was placed on the cabin wall. The flight then departed for London.
A lawyer for the passenger said she intended to continue enforcement action until the debt was paid. Ryanair denied the aircraft had been seized but refused to comment on whether a seizure notice had been applied or whether the debt had been paid. Passenger rights groups have criticised low-cost airlines for failing to compensate travellers, as under EU regulations, passengers are entitled to €600 each for delays of three hours or more.
