SETTLEMENT SECURED FOR YOUNG BOY AGAINST AER LINGUS

Amy Connolly, and the Litigation Team at Cantillons Solicitors, recently successfully represented a young boy who was refused travel in the business class cabin of an Aer Lingus aircraft with his Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) for the purposes of a “Share a Dream” trip to Orlando.

The parents of Rian Stack contacted Cantillons Solicitors as a once in a lifetime trip to Orlando was placed in jeopardy when they were informed by Aer Lingus, in the lead up to their departure date, that Rian could not be accommodated in the business class cabin of the aircraft as he required the use of a Portable Oxygen Concentrator. However, his parents were informed that he could be accommodated in the economy cabin. Rian has a tracheostomy and is a wheelchair user. He suffers with a Neuromuscular condition, Myotublar Myopathy as well as a respiratory condition and scoliosis. He was required to lie flat for periods during the course of the long-haul flight and also required the use of a Portable Oxygen Concentrator (“POC”).

The Stack family had to make alternative arrangements and contacted KLM/Delta Airlines who were in a position to accommodate Rian using his Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) in business class, without any difficulty.

Upon the family’s return, proceedings were issued on behalf of Rian and his father, Stephen Stack, for breach of contract and discrimination on the grounds of disability. The case ultimately settled and was ruled before Judge Joanne O’Carroll sitting in the District Court in Cork on Friday, 30^th July 2021.

The Stack family are hopeful that Aer Lingus will amend its policies to ensure that people with disabilities can be accommodated in both economy and business class during the course of their travels. Rian and his family hope to use the settlement to travel to Disneyland in Paris in the near future.

Cantillons Solicitors were delighted to represent Rian Stack and his family and to achieve a successful outcome for them all.

See links to media coverage below:

https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2021/0730/1238277-aer-lingus-settlement/

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-40349300.html

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-40349282.html

Contact us at Cantillons Solicitors at +353 (0)21 4275673 or info@cantillons.com if you would like more information.

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