Ryanair is back today (Tuesday, October 7) with a new survey (October OTA Survey), complaining that online travel agents (OTAs) such as eDreams, Tix and Vola continue to charge consumers with overpricing that reaches up to 176% above the prices offered by the airline through its own website.
According to Ryanair, these platforms do not have formal distribution agreements with the company, “because they want to continue to overcharge consumers”.
The airline gives specific examples:
- eDreams sells a seat reservation that costs 5.67 euros on Ryanair.com for 15.67 euros, almost three times the price,
- while for a 10kg bag, which costs 12.99 euros on Ryanair, the platform charges 27.07 euros, more than double the amount.
Ryanair calls on governments and EU Consumer Protection Authorities to impose mandatory price transparency for all online travel platforms, “as already implemented by the company’s approved partners”.
However, the company is once again attacking the Spanish authorities. In a particularly sharp tone, it accuses the Spanish Consumer Minister, Pablo Bustinduy, describing him as “incapable” of protecting Spanish citizens from overcharging, despite the fact that eDreams is based in Spain.
Ryanair’s Marketing & Digital Director, Dara Brady, said:
“Our research shows that eDreams, Tix and Vola continue to harm unsuspecting consumers with overcharges of almost three times Ryanair’s prices. Despite the evidence, European governments and consumer protection authorities – and in particular Spanish Minister Bustinduy – have taken no action to stop this practice.”
Ryanair is continuing its campaign to protect European consumers from “misleading practices” and is calling for immediate regulatory intervention.
