Irish courts to hear Ryanair reseller case, Supreme Court rules

So-called ‘screenscrapers’ had appealed earlier decision

Ryanair welcomed the Supremt Court’s decision Photograph: Alan Betson / THE IRISH TIMES
Ryanair welcomed the Supremt Court’s decision Photograph: Alan Betson / THE IRISH TIMES

A Ryanair legal case against screenscrapers which re-sell its flights on their own websites will be heard in the Republic following a Supreme Court ruling today.

The airline is challenging the rights of companies such as eDreams, Billigfluege, On the Beach and Ticketpoint to sell Ryanair flights without transferring customers to the airline's website.

Billigfluege, On the Beach and Ticketpoint were seeking to overturn a High Court ruling that the Irish courts had the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Supreme Court dismissed this. Ryanair's chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, welcomed the news.

“The ruling will have no impact on the authorised websites we work with today, over a dozen, who are supplied with Ryanair’s product inventory, so as to allow customers to compare airfares,” Mr Jacobs said.

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Barry O'Halloran

Barry O'Halloran

Barry O’Halloran covers energy, construction, insolvency, and gaming and betting, among other areas