Ryanair and Aer Lingus fare hike shocks football fans

European airlines Ryanair and Aer Lingus were have been accused of overcharging football fans by increasing their fares for next month’s World Cup match between Ireland and France.

After the playoff draw between the two World Cup contenders, flight fares to Paris soared as fans checked the airlines’ websites. Ryanair is charging € 316 for passengers departing either by November 17th or 18th, and flying back the next day after the playoff. Similarly, flying with Aer Lingus on the same dates will cost travellers at least € 390.

A consumer watchdog said that Ryanair and Aer Lingus are adopting a strategy of taking advantage on destinations with guaranteed high demands.

John O’Mahony, sports spokesman of Fine Gael, accused both carriers of shamelessly ripping off passengers. Consumer Association of Ireland’s spokesman, Dermot Jewell, said that the sudden increase in prices just shows how consumers were being badly treated by the airlines.

Both airline companies defended their fare increase policies. Aer Lingus said that the price hike was due to high demands and boasted that it will provide extra flights to Paris just for the World Cup match. On the other hand, Ryanair had set all its flights at € 150 per way and promised to stay cheaper than Aer Lingus.

Meanwhile, Travel Sports, the official travel club of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), informed that it had sold 189 seats in a matter of three hours. The travel club is offering a € 325 one-day match package which includes round trip air tickets, and airport transfers to and from the game venue.