CAI Condemns Ryanair Cancellations

THE CONSUMERS' ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND

The Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) has today condemned the statement by Ryanair that it would cancel flights booked by passengers through intermediary websites, often referred to “screen scrapers”.
It is entirely unacceptable that Ryanair would propose to disrupt the travel and holiday plans of passengers at such short notice. It is also unfair that Ryanair are planning to make travellers and consumers the victims in their struggle with these websites.
We believe it should be a matter for consumers themselves to decide how to book their flights. In many cases consumers will do better by using comparison websites, in other cases they may get a better deal by going direct to the airline website.
Ryanair should have nothing to fear from these websites, if they are really the cheapest option, Ryanair will sell more seats.
Ryanair claims that consumers are being “stiffed” by these websites, consumers can check that themselves by comparing prices.
The real issue here in our view is that Ryanair is concerned about losing out on the sale of other services such as travel insurance, hotels, car hire and to stop this they want to prevent consumers from using comparison websites.
What Ryanair are proposing is bad for competition, is frustrating consumer choice and is an anti-consumer measure.

James Doorley                              Dermott Jewell                       

Chairperson                                  Chief Executive                       

Consumers' Association of Ireland (Regd. No. 29112)
43-44 Chelmsford Road
Ranelagh
Dublin 6.