Aviation

Hungary’s Ryanair fine is ‘beyond stupid’ — Michael O’Leary

Airline to appeal penalty for its decision to to pass on the cost of a tax to its customers

Michael O’Leary, the Ryanair chief executive, said it was ‘beyond stupid’ to levy such a tax on airlines just as they were recovering from losses inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Picture: Eric Lalmand/AFP

Ryanair Plc was slapped with a fine in Hungary over a windfall tax the airline’s chief executive called “beyond stupid”.

Hungary’s Consumer Protection Office levied a 300 million forint ($781,270) penalty for Ryanair’s decision to pass on the cost of the tax to its customers, Justice Minister Judit Varga said in a Facebook post on Monday. Ryanair said it would appeal.

Hungary’s government and Ryanair have been embroiled in a war of words since Prime ...