Ryanair flights pulled by online travel agents: Unveiling the dispute

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Online travel agents remove Ryanair flights, sparking a clash between the airline and major platforms. The move impacts passenger numbers, prompting Ryanair to cut fares for direct bookings.

In a surprising turn of events, several prominent online travel agents, including Booking.com, Kiwi, and Kayak, have removed Ryanair flights from their platforms, leading to a heightened dispute between the low-cost carrier and these booking websites. The airline forewarns a potential 2% reduction in short-term passenger numbers for January, coupled with potential impacts on ticket revenues.

Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary, alleges that these platforms are engaging in unlawful practices, accusing them of overcharging customers and providing false contact information. The airline has taken legal action against Booking.com owner Booking Holdings and subsidiaries such as Kayak, Agoda, and Priceline in the US.

The removal of flights from online platforms could result from a recent Irish High Court ruling that prohibited screen scraper Flightbox from scraping Ryanair’s online content. While Ryanair experiences a setback in share value, it remains confident that the change will not significantly affect full-year traffic or profit guidance.

Ryanair responds to the removal by pledging to lower fares for passengers booking directly through its official website, emphasizing the guarantee of the lowest airfares without hidden markups or scams. The airline distinguishes between what it calls “pirate” travel agency websites and “honest/transparent” platforms like Google Flights.

Despite the ongoing legal battle and turbulence in online partnerships, Ryanair’s update reveals a 9% increase in passenger numbers, totaling 12.5 million in December. The airline remains optimistic about the future, vowing to navigate the challenges posed by the sudden removal of its flights from online travel agent platforms.

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