Ryanair has welcomed a recent ruling from the Hamburg Court in Germany, which imposed fines on eDreams for violating multiple court orders dating back to January 2023.
This decision comes amid increasing scrutiny from courts and regulators on eDreams’ practices. Ryanair shared in a written statement, the press release highlights how this ruling adds to the pressure on eDreams, noting previous findings that its price presentations are deceptive to consumers.
The Hamburg Court shared “misleading” in describing eDreams’ presentation of prices, confirming several breaches on the eDreams-controlled website Opodo.de. These violations include deceptive discount advertising and the failure to show accurate seat reservation prices charged by airlines. The court determined that eDreams was unlawfully promoting savings and discounts that consumers could not actually realise, thereby misleading potential buyers.
Furthermore, the ruling pointed out that eDreams concealed the true costs of seat reservations, demonstrating a disregard for prior court directives. Despite these ongoing breaches, fines against eDreams continue to accumulate. This reinforces a series of German court decisions that criticise eDreams for engaging in practices deemed unfair and non-transparent compared to other online travel agencies.
Ryanair encourages all customers to book directly via its website or approved partners to ensure access to genuine, non-misleading fares. This approach contrasts with eDreams’ methods, which set it apart from compliant agencies like Booking.com, Lastminute, and Kiwi that adhere to price transparency standards. The press release underscores Ryanair’s commitment to protecting consumers from such deceptive tactics.
