Ryanair claims a Swiss court decision regarding a lengthy lastminute.com case will have “no practical impact” on the airline.
On Friday, Lastminute subsidiary BravoNext disclosed that the Swiss Supreme Court ruled in its favour in a 15-year legal dispute with the carrier.
The court ruled in two appeal decisions that the online firm can continue to offer the option of comparing and booking Ryanair tickets through the group’s websites, including lastminute.com, volagratis.com, rumbo.es, weg.de, and bravofly.com.
Ryanair was ordered to pay lastminute CHF 49,000 (£44,000) in costs.
Breaking silence on the ruling, Ryanair said EU law entitles airlines to determine their own distribution models and to protect their websites by contractual terms of use, and it will therefore retain its direct-to-consumer distribution model.
Ryanair director of marketing and digital Dara Brady urged consumers to book flights direct on the airline’s website.
He said: “Ryanair’s direct to customers distribution model provides our customers with the best choice, care, and lowest fares while allowing us to ensure that flight safety, security, and public health protocols are complied with.
“We again urge consumers to avoid intermediaries and book directly on the Ryanair website, the only place to find the cheapest Ryanair fares.”
On April 14, the boss of lastminute.com said he hoped to extend an “olive branch” to Ryanair to find a better way forward collaboratively.
Chief executive Luca Concone said: “We’ve always believed that empowering consumers in booking any flight ticket available in the market doesn’t damage any airline’s business.
“On the contrary, it fosters transparency and drives growth and competition in the market.
“All airlines should welcome this judgement and start working more closely with online travel agents in favour of the travellers.”
Ryanair has long complained about third party ‘screenscraper’ websites distributing its fares and has been involved in litigations across Europe against the practice.
The Paris Court of Appeal ruled last May that the agency must stop selling the budget carrier’s flights, upholding an original order made by the Court of First Instance.
Ryanair had claimed that the OTA had no right to screenscrape its fares and schedule from the airline’s website to sell to its customers.