Ryanair has launched its first partnership with an online travel agency (OTA), despite repeatedly labeling the companies “pirates”.
The Dublin-based airline said it has reached an agreement with loveholidays to offer its flights as part of package holidays.
Ryanair has previously complained strongly that OTAs sell its flights without permission.
Last week he highlighted companies such as Kiwi.com, Opodo, eDreams and last Minute.com that overcharge passengers.
There is also the issue of passenger contact details not being passed on, making it difficult to provide travel updates and process refunds.
Ryanair insisted its partnership with loveholidays is “transparent” as travelers will pay no more than if they book direct and the airline will receive accurate contact details.
At a press conference in London, Ryanair's director of marketing, communications and digital, Dara Brady, said it was “a historic day” for the airline.
He said: “No one here seeks to overcharge customers. No one is looking for customers not to get the correct information and if it goes wrong we have a process that ensures customers can get refunds. “We have always said that if (OTAs) follow our rules, we will be happy to work with others.”
He continued: “From Ryanair's point of view, I think it is a very important step forward.
“We will continue to campaign hard against OTAs that do not respect the rules. They are pirates, we don't want to deal with them.
“For legitimate partners like loveholidays, who invest in the customer and will not apply margins and provide us with correct customer information, we are happy to work with them.”
Loveholidays is the third largest provider of holiday packages in the UK and the largest OTA.
Chief Marketing Officer Al Murray said: “This new partnership highlights our commitment to championing consumer choice, with the overall goal of making travel more affordable and accessible while opening the world to everyone.” .
Ryanair said OTAs stopped selling its flights in December, causing a slight decrease in the proportion of seats occupied on its planes.
Brady said the loveholiday partnership is “certainly not a response to that” as the airline was happy that OTAs were not selling its flights.
