Ryanair has banned the controversial test that should show whether travelers from South Africa actually come from that country. That’s what CEO Michael O’Leary says to BBC News†
According to the airline, the test was necessary because many people would travel to the United Kingdom with false South African passports. Ryanair believed it could track those people down by asking simple questions.
Among other things, the test asked for the capital of South Africa. Those who failed were refused flight to the UK. They did get their money back.
The test is controversial because the questions were asked in Afrikaans. Afrikaans is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa, spoken by only a small part of the population. The language is also associated with apartheid. It is unclear why Ryanair chose this language to set the test questions.
Ryanair previously defended the policy. Airlines can face heavy fines if they carry passengers flying with a false passport. O’Leary returns to that. “It makes no sense and it is inappropriate,” said the CEO.