Ryanair Facing Overcharging Allegations

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

12 July 2006

Low-cost airline, Ryanair has angrily denied that it has overcharged customers and misrepresented fees charged on flights to various destinations.

In a report published this week, the UK's Daily Telegraph revealed that Austrian MEP, Eva Lichtenberger is calling for an European Commission probe into allegations that 'government taxes' added to flight prices are not in fact being levied by the relevant national authorities, but are being pocketed by Ryanair.

The Telegraph cited as an example the EUR15.40 passenger service charge imposed on customers flying to Dublin (when the actual charge is just EUR2.90), and the imposition in Brussels of a EUR7 government tax, where no such levy exists.

However, Ryanair has disputed that it has contravened the EU's rules on misleading advertising, stating, according to the Wall Street Journal that:

"No Ryanair passenger has ever been overcharged."

It continued:

"Before any passenger is allowed to confirm and pay for a booking on Ryanair, they are presented with a breakdown of their total fare - taxes, fees and charges, and are asked to confirm their agreement to this total amount."

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