SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of August 2008
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
RYANAIR RESPONDS TO EU QUERIES
RE: SCREENSCRAPER/TICKET-TOUT WEBSITES
CALLS ON DG TREN TO PROTECT
CONSUMERS FROM
TICKET-TOUT WEBSITES ADDING 200% TO 300% HIDDEN FEES
Ryanair today (Tuesday, 26th August 2008) confirmed that it had sent a detailed response to the European Commission's enquiry letter last week concerning Ryanair's policy of banning bookings made on unauthorised, illegal screenscraper/ticket-tout websites. A copy of this EU correspondence and Ryanair's reply has been published on Ryanair's website at www.Ryanair.com. Ryanair provided the European Commission with detailed documentary evidence to demonstrate that these screenscraper/ticket-tout websites are:
1. Guilty of unauthorised and illegal access to the Ryanair.com website.
2. In breach of Ryanair.com's copyright.
3. In breach of Ryanair's terms and conditions of travel and terms and conditions of use.
4. Do not provide consumers with Ryanair's accurate terms and conditions.
5. Do not provide consumers with accurate details of Ryanair's pricing.
6. Do not keep consumers informed of changes in Ryanair's terms and conditions or flight information.
7. Are regularly and consistently over-charging
consumers with over 200% or 300% hidden mark-ups on
Ryanair's ticket prices.
Ryanair provided the European Commission with evidence of four specific websites, Bravofly.com, Edreams.com, Volgratis.com, Wegelo.com in which the airline's ticket prices had been inflated by 200% or 300%, without the consumers knowledge, and these hidden mark-ups are billed to the consumer as if this was the Ryanair ticket price. These specific documented examples show the following hidden overcharging of consumers;
(a) Bravofly.com
price €60.93
Ryanair ticket
price €19.95
Bravofly overcharge
€40.95 (205%)
(b) Edreams.com
price €385.97
Airline ticket
price €106.87
Edreams
overcharge €279.10 (260%)
(c) Volgratis.com
price €63.25
Ryanair ticket
price €25.25
Volgratis
overcharge €38.00 (150%)
(d) Wegolo.com price
€37.00
Ryanair ticket
price €10.00
Wegelo
overcharge €27.00 (370%)
Ryanair has pointed out to the European Commission that the illegal and unauthorised activities of these screenscraper/ticket-tout websites have in recent weeks caused dramatic slowdowns and outages on the Ryanair.com website, resulting in bona fide consumers being unable to access Ryanair's timetables, prices or make bookings on Ryanair.com. Ryanair also explained to the European Commission that since it is the only airline to operate with a lowest price guarantee, Ryanair's guarantee becomes invalid if these ticket tout websites can overcharge consumers with 200% or 300% hidden mark ups on Ryanair's guaranteed lowest ticket prices.
Ryanair's Michael O'Leary confirmed today:
"We have responded to the European Commission's enquiries by providing them with documentary evidence of this unauthorised, illegal ticket-tout operation being perpetrated on consumers by these screenscraper websites. It is remarkable, but unsurprising, that a number of European Government agencies and the European Commission has sought to blame Ryanair for blocking the illegal activities of these screenscrapers, instead of tackling the real consumer scandal which is the hidden 200% or 300% mark ups being levied and over-charged on innocent consumers by these illegal screenscraper/ticket-tout websites.
"Since Ryanair is the only airline doing anything to eliminate this unauthorised and illegal practice, we are now calling on the European Commission in general and DG TREN in particular, to take action to force these unauthorised, illegal screenscraper/ticket tout websites to desist from unlawfully overcharging consumers by 200% or 300%, particularly when they provide no useful service to consumers."
Ends. Tuesday, 26th August 2008
For further information
please contact:
Stephen McNamara
Pauline McAlester
Ryanair
Ltd
Murray Consultants
Tel: +353-1-8121212 Tel.
+353-1-4980300
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
hereunto duly authorized.
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RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC |
Date: 26 August 2008
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By:___/s/ James Callaghan____ |
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James Callaghan |
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Company Secretary & Finance Director |