Travelport has insisted and Ryanair has confirmed that most of the carrier’s fares will be available on its systems at the same price as on Ryanair.com.
Ryanair fares became available on Travelport on April 2 and the group’s vice-president and managing director Derek Sharp insisted this week: “More than nine out of 10 fares will be available exclusively through Travelport and without any surcharges.”
Sharp was responding to a Travel Weekly story last week that highlighted the difference between fares on the GDS and promotional fares on Ryanair’s website.
It quoted Lesley Kane, Ryanair head of corporate travel and groups, who said: “The lowest fares will not be available on GDSs. A fare of €19.99 on our site could be €28.99 on the GDS.”
Sharp said: “There is a small proportion of fares we don’t get, but our customers will have access to 19 out of 20 fares and there is no surcharge on anything we have. There is no price differential. Our agency partners will be able to book any [GDS] fare at the same price as on Ryanair.com.”
Kane said: “The majority of fares will have absolute parity in pricing and availability on Travelport and Ryanair.com.”
Sharp added: “There is no difference between what a leisure agent and a corporate agent can access, although the value proposition is stronger for the business traveller and that is what Ryanair is interested in.”
Travelport said it was “inundated with calls from agents” following the Travel Weekly story last week.