Ryanair admits error to deny boarding to boy

Passengers booked on Ryanair whose British passports comply with European validity rules should no longer face being denied boarding.

- SIMON CALDER

Europe's biggest budget airline has told The Independent that airport handling agents have been briefed to follow the two conditions for British passport holders travelling to the EU: 

Issue date: under 10 years on the day of entry to the EU.

Expiry date: at least three months left on the intended day of departure.

Previously the Irish airline had insisted: “If you are using a British passport to travel, it must be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of entry to any EU member state.

“If your passport is valid for more than 10 years, the excess validity period will not help to satisfy the requirements needed for travel to an EU member state."

Ryanair now accepts those stipulations were incorrect.

In addition, the carrier has retracted its assertion that “a child's passport must be no more than five years old on the date of travel”.