Portugal: 16 Ryanair flights to Morocco blocked, leaving over 3,000 passengers stranded

16 flights operated by Ryanair that were to depart from Portugal to Morocco were canceled starting from Sunday, by the country’s civil aviation regulator, ANAC, citing missing documents.

The flight operations that were mainly affected by the abrupt cancellation were scheduled to depart from Lisbon to Agadir, Fez, and Marrakech, portrayed as follows:

Routes                                       Dates                                   Flights
-Lisbon – Agadir                         Oct 31, Nov 1, 3, 5           FR3250/FR3251

-Lisbon – Fez                               Oct 31, Nov 1, 2, 5           FR3251/FR3601
-Lisbon – Marrakech                  Nov 1, 4                             FR4390/FR4391

Ryanair Press Release

In a press conference, Ryanair commented on the situation stating it “is a clear breach of the EU Open Skies Agreement in place with Morocco. Ryanair has operated between Portugal and Morocco for over three years and it is inexplicable why the Ministry of Infrastructure/ANAC has not issued standard flight authorizations to allow these flights to operate.”

Prior to flight operations, air carriers must follow specific requirements including having flight authorizations; a document that permits an aircraft the free circulation and permission to make a technical stop in another country’s airspace, and traffic rights which provide the aircraft the right to carry passengers, cargo, and mail.

A clarification was made by Ryanair explaining that the airline had tried “several times to guarantee these permissions in the last month” and had successfully obtained “traffic rights to fly from Portugal to Morocco,” yet the flights were prevented.

ANAC response

Portugal’s National Civil Aviation, ANAC said the permit request issued by Ryanair dates back to 22 October.

“Despite Ryanair’s request having been presented to ANAC less than 15 days before the intention of exploring the routes, violating the minimum deadlines, this authority invited the airline to supply the missing documentation”, the text of the press release added.

ANAC also spoke on the passengers’ behalf underlining that “the company shall protect them, indemnifying and/or compensating, as applicable”. However, Ryanair guarantees that it is trying to find travel alternatives or refunds for passengers affected by the sudden cancellations.

A recent move taken by the airline to face the European country’s authorities was evident in CEO Michael O’Leary’s last conference, which grabbed the attention of the press, as a slide where the country’s Infrastructure Minister, Pedro Nuno Santos with Pinocchio’s nose was showcased.

Passengers Reaction

Following the cancellation of the flights, passengers expressed their disappointment on various social media platforms. Some of them are currently demanding compensation while others are persisting to book the earliest flights available.

“Yes, thieves. They did not reimburse me for the 219 euros I spent, as I have the full rights to take it back.” Commented one of the passengers expressing anger as she urged the airlines for reimbursement.

The situation both Ryanair and the Portuguese authorities are confronting is nothing new, as the two elements have been openly on constant quarrels in the media lately.

Facing the Portuguese authorities, Ryanair presented complaints about money injections and denationalization of flag carrier TAP, in addition to «slot blocking» in Lisbon Airport which, according to the airline, would be deliberate to benefit TAP.