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) to an unnamed woman for a delayed flight two years ago.
The bailiff entered the plane, which was bound for London, on Monday and affixed a seizure sticker to the cabin after 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. If the debt remains unpaid by a deadline, the court may sell the Boeing 737 at public auction.
The dispute began in 2024 when a flight from Linz to Mallorca was delayed by 13 hours. The passenger, who paid for an alternative flight, claimed a refund and compensation under aviation regulations. Ryanair failed to pay, leading the passenger to take the case to court, which ordered the airline to pay the sum plus interest and legal costs. When Ryanair did not comply, the passenger sought enforcement action from Austrian authorities.
A Linz airport spokesperson said: “We were informed that there was a pending claim against Ryanair in court and that a bailiff has been instructed by the district court of the city of Traun to carry out an official act. We accompanied the bailiff to the aircraft, where the bailiff carried out his official duties.” The bailiff asked the crew for the €890, but as Ryanair operates cashless flights, they could not pay, 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 until the debt was paid. Ryanair denied the aircraft had been seized but declined to comment on whether a seizure notice had been applied or the debt settled. Passenger rights groups have criticised low-cost airlines for failing to compensate travellers for delays or cancellations, noting that under European Commission regulations, passengers are entitled to €600 each for delays of three hours or more.
