French court rules against easyJet over expired passport dispute
A French court has ruled against easyJet for refusing boarding to a child with a recently expired passport, awarding the family nearly €5,000 in compensation.
A French court has ruled that airline easyJet was wrong to refuse boarding to a child whose passport had expired just 18 days before a flight.
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The case dates back to 2018, when a family travelling from Lyon to Naples were prevented from boarding after staff noticed the daughter’s passport was no longer valid.
The family instead made the journey by coach and later sought compensation.
The airline argued that EU rules require passengers to hold a valid passport.
However, the court found that a 1957 European agreement allowing travel between member states with a passport expired for up to five years took precedence.
After an initial claim was dismissed, the case was eventually reconsidered following an appeal to the Cour de cassation, which sided with the family.
In its final ruling in February 2026, the Lyon court awarded the claimant nearly €5,000, covering travel costs, a hotel stay, and €2,000 in damages for distress, along with legal expenses.
The decision highlights the legal complexities surrounding travel documents within Europe and reinforces older agreements that can override more recent regulations in certain cases.