Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary says it’s “completely untrue” that his airline is hiking prices for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
His denial comes as the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland criticised Ryanair for raising its prices on flights from Poland to Dublin – a route being used by Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict.
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Larysa Gerasko told the Oireachtas EU Affairs Committee that she is seeking a meeting with Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan on the matter.
She described the practice as “immoral”.
Sinn Féin Teachta Dála John Brady described the behaviour of the airline as “despicable” and said Ryanair should be called before the committee to explain its actions.
“Any business or company anywhere in the world seeking to capitalise on people fleeing for their lives is appalling,” he said.
Mr O’Leary, however, is not backing down, saying “there are loads of cheap flights out there”.
Speaking at the Cheltenham Festival, where he had a winner and a runner-up through his horses Delta Work and the popular Tiger Roll in the same race, O’Leary said: “We already carrying thousands of refugees around Europe with fixed fares of €20 and €30 and €50. This story that we are hiking the fares out of Poland are completely false.
“We have low fares out of Poland available today, tomorrow and the next day, but if a flight fills, the last few fares will be sold at the highest fares. That’s how our business runs.”
Last week a range of flight fares from Poland to Dublin were priced up to around €300.
