European law surrounding the rights of handicapped fliers dictates that airports and airlines must provide free assistance at all times. The services that airports give disabled people are paid for by the airport tax charged to all departing passengers.
In 2014, Spain's National Enforcement Body AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aerea) discovered that Air Europa required disabled passengers booking airport assistance to call a phone number charged at standard rates, an offence that breached (ec) 1107/2006. AESA subsequently fined Air Europa €4,500 (£3200, US$5000).
The airline disputed the fine after moving its special assistance line to a Freephone number but, in the second week of June, the ruling and fine against Air Europa was upheld by Spanish High Court judge Manuel Ponte, who stated that the original phone line was not free and thus breached EU Regulation.
