Ryanair to appeal order to cease ‘denigrating’ leading OTA

Ryanair is to lodge an appeal after being ordered by a Spanish court to cease denigrating eDreams Odigeo and its Prime subscription scheme.

The Barcelona commercial court action follows interim measures imposed on Ryanair in July, which mandated the airline to immediately cease statements against the European OTA.

Ryanair said it had instructed its lawyers to “seek clarity” from the Barcelona commercial court on the eDreams injunction which has prevented the airline using certain words to describe the eDreams Prime product.

“Since the date of that injunction, Ryanair has not used these words,” the Ryanair said.

In the latest round of an ongoing dispute between Europe’s largest airline and the online travel company, a judge agreed with a request by eDreams Odigeo to put the airline on formal notice that any further “disobedience” may result in “criminal consequences”.

A Spanish Supreme Court ruling previously confirmed that eDreams is legally entitled to distribute Ryanair flights as part of its offering, exercising its legitimate role as a travel agent.

“This renders [group chief executive] Michael O’Leary’s recent public statements, claiming eDreams is ‘unlawfully’ selling Ryanair flights, entirely false, as the binding Supreme Court ruling clearly states that eDreams’ ability to retail Ryanair flights is lawful,” a statement by the Spanish stock market-listed OTA said.

However, Ryanair said it “believes this ruling is unclear and vague, since the Barcelona court did not specify what exact language eDreams claims has breached the original injunction”.

The carrier added: “Ryanair has instructed its lawyers to appeal this vague ruling, and to seek clarification as to how Ryanair can refer to eDreams’ continued practice of overcharging its subscribers when purchasing airline tickets or ancillary services.

“Ryanair will continue to publicise the fact that eDreams continues to overcharge its subscribers, in particular its Prime subscribers, for airline services and ancillary services, and Ryanair’s lawyers will request the Barcelona court to provide it with guidance as to how these overcharges may be communicated transparently and openly to the travelling public.”