Angry soccer fans set to hit back over air fare hikes

By Dan Collins

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

SOCCER fans are considering chartering their own plane to take them to France for the Republic’s World Cup play-off, amid claims that top airlines have inflated their prices for the game.

Yesterday, Alan Hunter of the Irish Football Supporters’ Association called for a boycott of the airlines which he said had increased the cost in the wake of yesterday’s draw against France.

"It’s shameful to take advantage of people like this and it’s happening every time. It’s an injustice and there’s a lot of anger among the fans."

Mr Hunter claimed he was considering chartering a flight to Paris for the match. "I’ve done it before, to Moscow in 2003 to bring fans to the World Cup qualifiers against Russia. They jacked up prices then too."

Fine Gael sport spokesman John O’Mahony said flight prices had soared "as much as fivefold" after the draw was made.

"We all expect there to be some increase in airline prices for a game like this, but cashing in to this extent is ridiculous," he said. "Ireland’s draw against France took place at 1pm yesterday. At 12.45pm, the cost of a November 17 flight to Paris on the Ryanair website was €24.99 before taxes and charges. At 1.15pm it became €124.99."

A Newstalk 106–108 FM survey found that within an hour of the draw prices on Aer Lingus flights had increased significantly.

"This morning, return Aer Lingus flights to Paris were priced at €309.03 – flying out on the morning of Wednesday 18 and coming back on Thursday 19. This price has now risen to €529.03 and is rising by the minute," Newstalk stated.

Air France flights priced from €75 one way yesterday morning ended up costing €215 one way or €441 return including taxes and charges.

This country’s leading airlines vehemently denied they were cashing in.

"It’s supply and demand – seats are priced at various levels and as the cheaper seats get booked up there is less availability on those seats," said an Aer Lingus spokeswoman.

Ryanair responded by saying all seats on its extra flights to and from Paris will be at least €20 cheaper than Aer Lingus.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, October 20, 2009