Ryanair denies 18 charges alleging misleading flight prices

Its internet advertising claimed some Buzz flights cost more than they did, an Essex trading standards officer told Chelmsford Crown Court.

The Dublin-based company, which has an office at Stansted Airport in Essex, also concealed the true cost of its own flights, prosecutors alleged.

Ryanair denies 18 charges relating to misleading indications on seat prices.

The court heard the airline failed to clearly spell out how much insurance and tax charges added to the price of a seat.

We try to keep on top of any developments in the large businesses that are based in Essex Trading standards officer Amanda Farrell

Essex County Council trading standards officers, who are bringing the prosecution, alleged its internet advertising breached consumer protection legislation.

At the hearing on Tuesday trading standards officer Amanda Farrell said her department began investigating Ryanair's advertising two years ago.

She told jurors Ryanair had exaggerated the cost of Buzz flights from Stansted to destinations including Frankfurt and Berlin in Germany and La Rochelle and Toulouse in France.

An investigation began in March 2003 after trading standards officers read press reports saying Ryanair was set to take over Buzz, Ms Farrell said.

"Buzz are Stansted-based. We try to keep on top of any developments in the large businesses that are based in Essex," said Ms Farrell.

"At that time in the press it said Ryanair were in all likelihood going to take over Buzz. I thought it would be good to know what was going to happen with respect to the consumers in the takeover."

Additional costs

She listed a series of claims made about Buzz fares on the Ryanair website and compared them with the cost of flights offered by Buzz on the internet.

According to Ryanair's site a Buzz flight to Frankfurt cost �34. She had been able to find one for �21 - as advertised on Buzz.

The Ryanair site said flying Buzz to La Rochelle cost �54 and to Toulouse cost �42. Ms Farrell said she had found the relevant flights on Buzz for �21 and �29 respectively.

Ms Farrell said officials also found Ryanair did not quote the full price on its website home page. She said prices were higher when additional costs were taken into account.

She said there was no mention of taxes, fees or charges on the website. The indication that the fare was "exclusive of taxes" was not given until later in the booking process.