Ryanair has recently encountered a setback as several online travel agents (OTAs) have removed the airline from their listings. This move by OTAs, including prominent names like Booking.com, Kiwi, and Kayak, came unexpectedly last month, prompting the Irish airline to voice its concerns.
Ryanair criticized these OTAs, likening their actions to those of “pirates.” The airline expressed surprise and dissatisfaction with the sudden exclusion of its flights from these websites. This development could potentially impact Ryanair’s short-term business prospects.
The airline anticipates a reduction in its load factor, which measures the percentage of available seats filled on flights. Ryanair expects this figure to drop by up to 2% in January. Additionally, the company foresees a temporary decline in ticket revenue. In response, Ryanair plans to offer more low fares on its own website, encouraging customers to book directly with them.
Despite these challenges, Ryanair remains optimistic about its long-term outlook. The airline stated that these OTAs represent only a small fraction of its overall business. Therefore, it does not expect this issue to materially affect its full-year passenger numbers or profit expectations.
Ryanair continues to collaborate with what it describes as “honest” and “transparent” online travel agents. The airline emphasizes that its fares are still accessible through these channels.
The reason behind the removal of Ryanair flights from these websites remains unclear. However, the airline speculates that it could be linked to an Irish High Court ruling last year. This ruling granted Ryanair a permanent injunction against Flightbox, an entity accused of unlawfully scraping content from Ryanair’s website for use by online travel agents.
Ryanair is also engaged in a legal battle in the United States with Booking.com’s owner, Booking Holdings, and its subsidiaries over website listings. This dispute may also be a contributing factor to the current situation.
Amidst these developments, Ryanair released new figures showing a 9% increase in passengers flown in December, totaling 12.5 million. However, the airline’s load factor decreased slightly compared to the previous year. Furthermore, Ryanair had to cancel over 900 flights last month due to the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and Jordan amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict.
