Aviation Business News

Ryanair ‘leads the way’ on OTA cooperation, says On the Beach boss

photo_camera Shaun Morton and Eddie Wilson enjoy a cocktail together. Such a cosy picture would have been vanishingly unlikely just six months' earlier. (Pic: Ryanair)

Following the announcement of a deal between Ryanair and online travel agent On the Beach earlier in the year, the airline has now announced that flights are now available to book as part of the agent’s holiday packages, and warm words have been exchanged by both parties.

The news comes in time for the peak summer season and means that travellers can book complete holidays with the benefit of ATOL protection and more.

Shaun Morton, CEO of On the Beach Group plc spoke of how he valued the arrangement: “Ryanair is leading the way in showing how low-cost airlines and online travel agents can work together to give customers choice and value for their holidays. As the number one airline in Europe, Ryanair offers an extensive variety of routes at competitive prices, and we are so pleased to have successfully integrated this into our offer to customers”.

READ: Ryanair loses long-running third-party booking case

“This industry-leading, collaborative approach with Ryanair is a blueprint for how the industry can work together to ensure consumers have choice and free, fair access to flights across the market,” he added.

Ryanair was equally effusive. “Ryanair is leading the way in showing how low-cost airlines and online travel agents can work together to give customers choice and value for their holidays. As the number one airline in Europe, Ryanair offers an extensive variety of routes at competitive prices, and we are so pleased to have successfully integrated this into our offer to customers,” said airline CEO Eddie Wilson.

Such a deal seemed more than unlikely just a few months earlier as both companies engaged an acrimonious war of words that landed them in the High Court. As recently as November 2023 Ryanair called On the Beach a ‘pirate’ and a ‘screenscraper’ that served ‘no useful purpose’. For it’s part, On the Beach had described Ryanair’s words as ‘disparaging’ and ‘untrue’. However, both companies have put the past behind them and formed a deal where holidaymakers can book a hotel and flights with the benefit of ATOL protection.

 

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