Easyjet loses disability discrimination case in France
PARIS. January 13. KAZINFORM The low-cost airline, Easyjet, has been found guilty by a French court of discriminating against three disabled passengers in 2008 and 2009, Kazinform refers to BBC.
The court fined Easyjet, 70,000 euros for refusing to allow the three unaccompanied wheelchair users onto a plane at Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris, blaming security concerns.
A lawyer for the three passengers described it as a "landmark ruling".
Easyjet had denied any discrimination.
During the trial prosecutor Abdelkrim Grini said Easyjet's business model was behind the discrimination.
He accused the company of having "an aggressive commercial policy that consists of reducing operating costs as much as possible".
A lawyer for the three passengers who brought the case, Patrick de la Grange, said: "This is an economic model that's being punished, that of low-cost. With cost reductions, the aim is to have as few personnel as possible."
Easyjet said it was disappointed with the outcome.
"The company denies having had any discriminatory intention whatsoever," company lawyer, Philippe Van der Meulen said, adding that Easyjet would consider appealing against the verdict.