AN ITALIAN airport operator yesterday claimed that Ryanair would have to pay penalties to it if the airline cancels flights as part of a continuing dispute with the country’s civil aviation regulator over check-in documentation.

Società Aeroporto Toscano (SAT), which operates Pisa airport in Tuscany, said Ryanair had a contractual obligation to meet certain passenger targets.

Failure to do so would result in it having to pay the airport operator a penalty fee.

“Such a contract foresees the payment of penalties to SAT in the case that even part of the flights are cancelled,” SAT said in a statement.

Ryanair last Wednesday said it would temporarily stop domestic Italian flights at 10 airports from January 23rd because of the row with Enac, the Italian aviation authority.

Ryanair has objected to Enac’s decision to cut requirements on documents that passengers have to present at boarding gates, saying the new rules will not ensure a secure form of identification.

Ryanair’s web check-in policy across Europe requires passengers to produce either a passport or EU/EEA national ID card when boarding a flight.

Enac has ruled that passengers can fly on domestic routes using a variety of IDs, including employment passes and fishing licences.

Ryanair says its personnel are subject to arrest if they do not accept these documents at check-in.

Ryanair operates domestic flights to a number of Italian airports from Pisa, including Alghero, Bari, Cagliari and Brindisi.

A Ryanair spokesman said Pisa airport was “very supportive” of the airline’s position on the question of check-in documentation.

“It is Enac who are unlawfully undermining Ryanair’s safety and security procedures,” she added.

– (Additional reporting: Reuters)