Ural Airlines lost a lawsuit to a passenger who was unable to fly because of illness.

      In Yekaterinburg, the Oktyabrsky District Court granted a prosecutor’s claim filed by the prosecutor against the airline Ural Airlines in order to protect a passenger’s rights.

      The court imposed on the carrier the obligation to amend the rules on submission of documents when processing a forced ticket refund due to illness, the Ural Transport Prosecutor’s Office reports.

      The Transport Prosecutor’s Office of Sverdlovsk Region conducted a check of compliance with consumer protection legislation in the provision of air services by JSC “Ural Airlines” following a passenger’s complaint.

      It was established that the requirements (posted on the carrier’s official website) for medical documents that must be presented when arranging a forced ticket refund due to passenger illness are excessive.

      In particular, the airline requires the presence of the signature and stamp not only of the person who issued the medical document but also of the head of the department or the chief physician of the institution.

      At the same time, the issuance by medical institutions of documents to patients containing additional signatures and stamps is not established by regulation. This means that a passenger is effectively deprived of the opportunity to arrange the forced refund of an airline ticket provided for by law in case of illness.

      To protect the violated rights of passengers, the transport prosecutor filed a claim with the Oktyabrsky District Court of Yekaterinburg seeking to oblige the airline to remove the excessive requirements for the specified documents. The prosecutor’s claim was granted. After the court decision comes into force, the prosecutor’s office will monitor its implementation.