A Romanian airline has become the first operator to be fined for offences linked to Passenger Locator Forms and Covid-19 tests.
The prosecution was bought by the Civil Aviation Authority under the Covid Enforcement Regulations.
Blue Air Aviation was fined £40,000 at Uxbridge Magistrates Court, after admitting six offences said to have taken place between March 15 and June 10 last year.
Five of the charges concerned the airline failing to ensure that passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport had completed the required Passenger Locator Form. The sixth offence stated Blue Air failed to make sure an arriving passenger had the required evidence of a completed a pre-departure Covid test.
The prosecution and fine follows Blue Air Aviation receiving fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for the breaches of Covid-19 requirements, which they did not pay or seek to resolve with the Civil Aviation Authority.
This is the first prosecution of an airline under the Covid Enforcement Regulations, which gave new enforcement powers to the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure airlines check passengers arriving in England are complying with the Covid rules for international travel.
Paul Smith, consumer director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We welcome the court’s decision to fine Blue Air Aviation over breaches of the Covid Enforcement Regulations.
"While we generally observe high levels of compliance from airlines against the regulations, it is important for consumer confidence and public health that failures to follow the requirements are dealt with appropriately.
“It is important that airlines, including Blue Air, continue to engage with us going forward. The UK Civil Aviation Authority will always look to prosecute breaches of compliance where necessary.”
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