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Ryanair Boss Rejects Price-Gouging Claims as Prague Fares Jump After Ireland Draw

Sharp post-draw increases have triggered a regulatory call, with scarce away tickets leaving travel plans unsettled.

Overview

  • Monitored snapshots showed DublinPrague fares rising between 66% and 159% within about 30 minutes of the draw, including jumps from €93 to €241 and from €211 to €427.
  • Some supporters reported prices leaping from roughly €230 each way to about €600 within minutes, forcing last‑minute changes.
  • One group booked DublinBerlin for about €230 return and a four‑hour train to Prague for around €50 to bypass direct flight costs, with others opting for even longer rail detours.
  • Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary denied price gouging, saying regular services sold out and the airline added 15 extra flights that include largely empty legs on outbound or return sectors.
  • Updated pricing snapshots showed Ryanair at about €432 one way to Prague on March 25 with €475 returns on March 28, and Aer Lingus totals up to €867 versus roughly €227 for comparable February travel, as a Fine Gael senator urged a regulatory review and fewer than 1,000 away tickets are guaranteed.