Ryanair has been ordered to pay more than €8 million by a French court after it ruled that the airline had broken employment laws.
The court found that Ryanair had broken French law when it employed more than 120 crew on Irish contracts who were flying to and from the airline’s former base at Marseille between 2007 and 2010.
Ryanair immediately said it would be appealing against the verdict which sees the company being fined €200,000 plus damages of nearly €8 million in backdated social insurance and pension payments.
The airline said that the employees had already paid all their taxes and pension contributions in Ireland over the three-year period in question.
Ryanair spokesman Robin Kiely added: "Ryanair will study today's ruling in detail, and will be lodging an early appeal.
“We do not believe that either Ryanair or our people can be forced to double pay these contributions a second time in France.
“In the meantime, Ryanair and its people will continue to comply fully with Irish and EU employment law, income taxes and social tax obligations.”