Ukrainian citizen Bohdan Voloshyn, who has a group I disability, faced a critical situation at Oslo Gardermoen Airport when low-cost carrier Ryanair denied him boarding on his scheduled flight. The incident occurred as the man attempted to return home after living in Norway under temporary protection for two years. The conflict arose due to discrepancies during ticket booking through an intermediary, which resulted in the travel documents lacking information about the necessity of transporting a wheelchair.
Conflict details and passenger position
According to Bohdan Voloshyn, the ticket was purchased through the Kiwi booking service, but intermediary company employees were negligent by failing to register a request for special assistance in the system. Earlier, the man had arrived in Norway via an SAS flight, and no transportation issues with his mobility device occurred then. At Oslo Airport, Ryanair representatives demanded an additional check-in fee, even though the passenger had already registered independently and spent 400 kroner, after which flight FR7101 departed without him.
The traveler noted that he felt like the character in the movie "The Terminal," stuck in the airport terminal with no way to fly out. He was forced to purchase a new ticket at his own expense and wait two days for the next flight while incurring hotel accommodation expenses. Voloshyn emphasized that the low-cost carrier's employees showed no proper engagement and even suggested he walk to the airplane despite his physical limitations, and he now intends to seek compensation for discriminatory treatment.
Ticket agent and airline clarifications
Representatives of the Kiwi booking service stated in response to media inquiries that the processed system lacked a request for special assistance or wheelchair provision. The company recalled that for bookings made through their platform, passengers are required to independently enter such data in the "My Trips" section before departure, as the agency can only transfer information already entered to the carrier.
Ryanair support service representatives referenced internal regulations stating that passengers requiring special assistance must submit requests at least 48 hours before the aircraft's departure. Airline representatives stated they have the right to refuse boarding to passengers with disabilities if safety requirements or aircraft technical features make such transportation physically impossible, though they could not provide a direct assessment of the specific incident with the Ukrainian passenger.
Significance of the incident and traveler rules
This case exposed serious systemic risks for passengers with limited mobility when purchasing tickets through third-party agents and strict adherence to safety regulations by low-cost carriers. The situation demonstrates the importance of strictly complying with application deadlines for special services, which must be at least 48 hours, as well as the need for clear coordination between ticket aggregators and airlines to avoid similar incidents. Travelers are advised to check all options in routing receipts in advance to avoid finding themselves isolated in foreign airports.
