Global law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has successfully represented the Associazione Italiana Compagnie Aeree Low Fares (AICALF) and airlines easyJet, Ryanair, and Volotea in a legal dispute before the Regional Administrative Court of Piemonte (TAR Piemonte) regarding a Transport Regulation Authority (ART) resolution on handling customer complaints.
ART had introduced measures outlining the minimum rights passengers could demand from airlines when filing complaints. However, TAR Piemonte ruled the decision illegitimate, stating that it exceeded the authority of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), which is responsible for enforcing passenger rights in air transport.
The court also found that ART’s resolution could conflict with EU regulations and increase costs for airlines in a sector that requires equal conditions for all operators, regardless of nationality. Additionally, because the ruling applied to all flights to and from Italy, the judges warned it could create legal conflicts with other countries' regulations, including both EU and non-EU states.
WFW’s Italy public law, regulatory, and competition team represented AICALF, EasyJet, Ryanair, and Volotea in court. The team was led by Partner Giannalberto Mazzei, with support from of counsel Matteo Castioni and senior associate Cesare Fossati.
Commenting on the ruling, Giannalberto Mazzei stated: “This decision reinforces key EU principles and will positively influence future regulatory discussions.”