Ryanair calls on Aer Lingus to scrap its fuel surcharge rip-off

Ryanair, Ireland’s favourite airline today (12 March) called on high fare Aer Lingus to scrap its unfair and unjustified fuel surcharge, after Aer Lingus confirmed yesterday that it had reintroduced these surcharges only on its long-haul flights, but not on its short-haul flights. Given that both flights burn oil at the same cost per tonne, it’s clear that Aer Lingus is scamming its transatlantic passengers, where it has a near monopoly, but cannot reintroduce fuel surcharges on short-haul flights because of Ryanair’s policy of no fuel surcharges ever.

Ryanair drew attention to the fact that Aer Lingus had previously scrapped its fuel surcharges, not because of fuel prices, but in December 2008, during Ryanair’s last offer for Aer Lingus. Colm Barrington, the Chairman (and Board) of Aer Lingus should explain why they scrapped the fuel surcharges when Ryanair was bidding for Aer Lingus, but now some 15 months later, as Aer Lingus continues to lose passengers, lose jobs and lose money, it is reintroducing its fuel surcharges scam on long-haul flights only.

Speaking today, Ryanair’s Daniel de Carvalho said:

“There is no justification for Aer Lingus’ decision to reintroduce its fuel surcharge rip-off on long-haul flights only. When Aer Lingus buys fuel at the same price for its long-haul flights as its short-haul flights, it is clear that this is a scam on Aer Lingus’ transatlantic passengers, which they can’t get away with on short-haul flights, because Ryanair refuses to levy fuel surcharges ever.

“We believe this is yet another retrograde step by Aer Lingus. Their transatlantic traffic is already collapsing, their load factors have collapsed, their fares have collapsed and the introduction of fuel surcharges will simply worsen that trend.

“Ryanair remains the only airline in Europe to guarantee no fuel surcharges, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. This is part of the reason why Ryanair continues to grow rapidly (up 7 million passengers in 2009), whereas Aer Lingus is losing passengers. Introducing fuel surcharges at a time when you are losing passengers is a stupid move. Passengers can see through this rip off and will continue to desert Aer Lingus unless these fuel surcharges are reversed.

“Ryanair calls on Aer Lingus, in the interests of all its shareholders, to reverse this anti-consumer fuel surcharge scam. If passengers want to avoid fuel surcharges, all they have to do is book Ryanair, the only airline to guarantee no fuel surcharges, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”