Travel

Anyone carrying a few extra stone at the moment might need to be worried about what a UK court decided yesterday. Its ruling could pave the way for a 'fat tax' for air travel.

The court decided that Britain's disability and discrimination legislation don't apply once you're on an aircraft. The judges completely undermined the laws and no doubt there will be several airlines examining the ruling.

The move has long been yearned for by stingy airline Ryanair, but after the UK Court of Appeals finding it could soon be a reality.

The judgement came after two cases were heard, both of which included wheelchair users who were unable to sit beside their carers while on the flight.

Many carriers, mainly in the US, already charge obese customers for an extra seat if they can't easily fit into one. If the move did come into place, who would actually decide who's just a little overweight and who's too fat to fit in the seat?

Daniel Barnett, a barrister at Outer Temple Chambers told the Daily Telegraph, "The ruling confirms that disabled passengers have no right to dignity once the wheels leave the runway. It also means that airlines are immune if they choose to embarrass overweight passengers by demanding a fat tax."