This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7559406.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Europeans angry at Ryanair move | Europeans angry at Ryanair move |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Spain's transport ministry has opened an investigation into Ryanair's move to cancel thousands of bookings made via third party internet travel agents. | Spain's transport ministry has opened an investigation into Ryanair's move to cancel thousands of bookings made via third party internet travel agents. |
| Ryanair says the sales, which represent about a thousand bookings a day, are illegal. | Ryanair says the sales, which represent about a thousand bookings a day, are illegal. |
| But the decision, in the height of the summer travel season, has been criticised by consumer groups. | But the decision, in the height of the summer travel season, has been criticised by consumer groups. |
| Italy's transport minister called it "another deplorable and incomprehensible move". | Italy's transport minister called it "another deplorable and incomprehensible move". |
| Altero Matteoli said the decision not to honour Ryanair tickets booked by third party websites "damages its own clients," in comments published in Italy's daily newspaper La Repubblica. | Altero Matteoli said the decision not to honour Ryanair tickets booked by third party websites "damages its own clients," in comments published in Italy's daily newspaper La Repubblica. |
| The no-frills airline announced the move not to accept tickets bought anywhere other than on its website or via its telephone booking line last week. | The no-frills airline announced the move not to accept tickets bought anywhere other than on its website or via its telephone booking line last week. |
| 'Breaching copyright' | 'Breaching copyright' |
| The news comes as the budget carrier posted a fall of 85% in net profits in the three months to the end of June. | The news comes as the budget carrier posted a fall of 85% in net profits in the three months to the end of June. |
| A Ryanair spokesman said all tickets purchased from third parties after 11 August would be invalid and customers would be informed by email and refunded. | A Ryanair spokesman said all tickets purchased from third parties after 11 August would be invalid and customers would be informed by email and refunded. |
| "We're cancelling these tickets because they are in breach of our terms and conditions. The third party is breaching our copyright," Daniel De Carvalho told the BBC news website. | "We're cancelling these tickets because they are in breach of our terms and conditions. The third party is breaching our copyright," Daniel De Carvalho told the BBC news website. |
| The company said that half of the 2,000 bookings made each day on Ryanair flights were carried out via external websites, which it brands "screenscrapers". | The company said that half of the 2,000 bookings made each day on Ryanair flights were carried out via external websites, which it brands "screenscrapers". |
| He said that customers were sometimes being charged a 200% surcharge on top of the value of the flight when not purchasing the ticket directly. | He said that customers were sometimes being charged a 200% surcharge on top of the value of the flight when not purchasing the ticket directly. |
| According to La Repubblica, a European Commission spokesperson said that if the company was found to be cancelling tickets already sold it would intervene. | According to La Repubblica, a European Commission spokesperson said that if the company was found to be cancelling tickets already sold it would intervene. |
| Reports suggest that tickets bought via sites such as V-tours, of Germany, Spain-based E-Dreams, Ireland's Bravofly as well as some European versions of holiday booking website Opodo could be affected. | Reports suggest that tickets bought via sites such as V-tours, of Germany, Spain-based E-Dreams, Ireland's Bravofly as well as some European versions of holiday booking website Opodo could be affected. |
| Italian consumer associations Adusbef and Federconsumatori have said the move "is in violation of the consumer code and passengers' rights". | Italian consumer associations Adusbef and Federconsumatori have said the move "is in violation of the consumer code and passengers' rights". |
| E-Dreams has announced that it will take action against the firm for "irresponsibility and negligence", Agence France Presse reports. | E-Dreams has announced that it will take action against the firm for "irresponsibility and negligence", Agence France Presse reports. |
| But Ryanair defended its choice. | But Ryanair defended its choice. |
| "It's a consumer-friendly decision," Mr De Carvalho said. "We fight for our mission which is to deliver the lowest fares. We believe this measure, in the mid- to long-term, will benefit our passengers." |