British citizens left stranded by airlines in post-Brexit EU residency paper fiasco

Passengers flying from Heathrow airport were prevented boarding their flights

Credit: Anadolu

British residents of EU countries are being prevented from boarding flights back to their countries after spending Christmas in the UK due incorrect interpretations of residency rules and paperwork by airlines.

On Saturday at least nine people were prevented from boarding a BA/Iberia flight from Heathrow to Madrid despite having the right residency papers. The Telegraph has found that a similar problem afflicted British citizens due to fly from Manchester to Pisa with Ryanair.

The problem stems from a requirement to demonstrate residency of the EU country concerned due to a ban on non-essential travel from the UK as a Covid-19 safety measure.

Caitlin Procter said she was barred from flying to Pisa by Ryanair staff, who told her she must have either an Italian passport or a photo-ID residency card when she tried to board her flight at Manchester airport on Saturday.

But Dr Procter said that Italian government guidelines on who could travel were “crystal clear”, and include people who work in Italy and who possess an older type of residency document which does not have a photo.

She also had a copy of her work contract as a professor at the European University Institute in Florence. But she was not allowed to board the plane, a fate she said befell up to 30 other people due to catch the same flight.

“I travelled home to Sheffield to be with my Mum at Christmas. I followed all the rules and it’s ridiculous that airlines somehow have the authority to decide who can travel,” Dr Procter said.

“It’s a rude wake-up to Brexit. There are no other direct flights to Pisa for weeks, and I will have to pay £160 again for another Covid test as the one I have won’t be valid from Monday, which is when I am due back at work.”

Dr Procter said she has applied for the photo-ID card Italy is offering its British residents, but there is a three-month backlog in issuance.

Ryanair did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

On the same day the British Embassy in Spain was forced to put out a statement regarding a similar problem at Heathrow, where BA staff did not allow a number of UK residents in Spain to board their flight home with the same argument regarding photo-ID residency cards.

Spain introduced the TIE photo-ID card for British residents last summer, but has consistently stressed that the precursor green paper documents are still valid proof of residency and acquired rights.

The Embassy put out a social media statement responding to the reported bar on residents from returning to Spain with their green paper documents by saying: “This should not be happening.”