Romanian airline Blue Air Aviation was brought to court for six offences under the Covid Enforcement Regulations and fined £40,000 after pleading guilty in a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.

Five of the offences concerned Blue Air failing to ensure passengers arriving at Heathrow had completed the required PLF. The sixth offence concerned a failure to ensure an arriving passenger had evidence of a completed pre-departure Covid test.

The prosecution and fine follows Blue Air receiving fixed penalty notices for the breaches of Covid-19 requirements, which they 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 powers to the CAA to ensure airlines check passengers arriving in England are complying with the Covid rules for international travel.

Paul Smith, the CAA’s consumer director, 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.”