Low-cost carrier Blue Air Aviation has been handed a £40,000 fine for breaching COVID Enforcement Regulations.

Representatives for the Romanian airline appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court this morning and pleaded guilty to six offences in a prosecution brought by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Five of the offences concern Blue Air Aviation – which uses the tagline ‘The Better Way to Fly’ – failing to ensure that passengers arriving at Heathrow had completed the required Passenger Locator Form.

The sixth offence concerns the operator failing to ensure an arriving passenger had the required evidence showing that they had completed a pre-departure COVID test.

The prosecution and fine follows Blue Air Aviation receiving fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for the breaches of COVID-19 requirements, which it did not pay or seek to resolve with the CAA.

This is the first prosecution of an airline under the COVID Enforcement Regulations, which gave new enforcement powers to the CAA to ensure airlines check passengers arriving in England are complying with the COVID rules for international travel.

Commenting on the ruling by the court, CAA Consumer Director Paul Smith said: “We welcome the court’s decision to fine Blue Air Aviation over breaches of the COVID Enforcement Regulations.

“While we generally observe high levels of compliance from airlines against the regulations, it is important for consumer confidence and public health that failures to follow the requirements are dealt with appropriately.

“It is important that airlines including Blue Air continue to engage with us going forward. The UK Civil Aviation Authority will always look to prosecute breaches of compliance where necessary.”