What happens next? Ryanair refused to pay the Hungarian government’s gigantic fine
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The Irish ultra-low-cost airline received gigantic fine in Hungary in August. Hungary’s customer protection authority has fined the company 300 million forints (EUR 765,000) for “misleading customers through its dishonest business practices”, Justice Minister Judit Varga announced then. However, they refused to pay that sum, and the deadline was over in September.
Long legal procedure
The Irish company was fined early-August, receiving a 30-day-long deadline to pay the HUF 300 million. However, they attacked the decision of the customer protection authority at the Court of Budapest. Moreover, they submitted a request for immediate legal protection asking for the postponement of the payment deadline until the court’s final decision is made on the issue.
However, the court rejected the company’s plea, so Ryanair appealed.
The request for immediate legal protection aims to postpone the deadline for fine collection until a final judgement. Furthermore, if the court accepts it, the postponement might remain in effect for years until the court concluded the original dispute. In the case of a green light, Ryanair would not have to pay the 765 thousand euro fine for years.
Ryanair perhaps taking the position that it will not pay taxes that are not legally due or that are claimed on an unprincipled or unjustified basis … Depends on the interpretation of the quick and dirty, retroactive roll out of the departure tax by the Government, No issue if it had been prospective in application!