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Date Published: 16/03/2022
ARCHIVED - Ireland condemns Ryanair for hiking flight prices for Ukrainian refugees
The price increase has been deemed “unforgivable” by Irish politicians
Irish budget carrier Ryanair is rarely out of the news and of late, Mr O’Leary’s company has been celebrating the recovery of the tourism sector and the addition of new routes in anticipation of a bumper summer season, including five new destinations from Spain.
This week, however, the airline is making the headlines for the most deplorable of reasons, as Ukrainian ambassador Larysa Gerasko has publicly accused Ryanair of hiking up ticket prices for refugees fleeing the war-torn country to seek safety in Ireland.
“Ryanair raised the prices and it’s unfortunate, and I’m waiting for a meeting with the Minister for Transport of Ireland (Eamon Ryan),” said Ms Gerasko said on Tuesday March 15.
Ukrainians who are trying desperately to fly out of Poland after fleeing across the border are finding it next to impossible to secure flights, she said.
Ms Gerasko said she would “raise this issue for sure” when she meets Minister for Transport, adding that a letter she has penned to Ryanair asking for an explanation about the inflated air travel prices has thus far gone unanswered.
Independent Senator Sharon Keogan, who has been very active in raisings funds in support of the besieged nation, stated: “That’s unforgivable. It’s actually unforgivable.”
Given that Ryanair was the largest carrier in Ukraine prior to its invasion, many politicians are calling for Mr O’Leary to make amends by offering to transport refugees to Ireland, free of charge.
“I think a lot of us who do fly Ryanair would appreciate right now if Ryanair could say, ‘Look, on this occasion, in this traumatic war situation’ that they would fly services at “zero cost,” Fianna Fáil Senator Gerry Horkan said.
On March 15, Ryanair was advertising one-way tickets from Krakow to Dublin airport for as much as 200 euros on its website.
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