Ryanair has released the findings of a report compiled by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) in which it confirms that three of the company’s flights that made emergency landings at Valencia airport on July 26th were carrying fuel in excess of flight plan fuel requirements.
The aircraft, traveling from Palma (Mallorca), Skavsta (Stockholm) and Stansted (London) were originally destined for Madrid when heavy storms saw the closure of Madrid’s Barajas airport, necessitating their diversion to Valencia.
Each pilot apparently declared an ’emergency’ in accordance with EU-Ops regulations after calculating that useable fuel for landing was less than the final reserve.
The report added that each aircraft was operating within European standards and that all three planes landed safely in Valencia and with more than a ton of fuel on board.
Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary did admit, however, that the IAA recommended the airline revise its fuel policy and train pilots to deal with situations such as the bad weather at Madrid in July.
The IAA has recommended that its Spanish counterpart, AESA, review the delays into Madrid and consider whether airlines should be required to carry extra fuel when using the airport, as is the procedure at Heathrow airport in the UK.
AESA is now carrying out its own investigation into the low-cost airline, the largest passenger carrying airline in Spain.