Airlines apologises for passenger nationality test

An Irish airline has apologised for forcing a Greek woman living in Ireland to complete a language test in her native tongue to demonstrate that her passport and nationality were genuine.

Aer Lingus says in response to Associated Press questions it has suspended the year-old language tests with immediate effect.

The Dublin airline says the UK Border Agency provided the tests to quiz any passengers suspected by check-in staff of travelling on forged Greek passports. Those unable to show fluency in Greek would be refused permission to board.

The policy became public after a telecommunications executive in Ireland, Greek-born Chryssa Dislis, complained of degrading treatment when checking in for a January 6 flight from Barcelona, Spain, to her home city of Cork.

AP