Ryanair has offered to fly rugby fans to Wales for free after a "
scheduling error" meant a flight on the Heineken Cup final weekend
would no longer land in time for kick-off.
Hundreds of Munster fans pre-booked the 6.50am flight from Dublin to Bristol
(FR506) earlier this year in the hope their team would make the final in
Cardiff on May 24, paying less than €50 before taxes.
But, in late March, Ryanair told passengers that the departure time was
being changed to 3pm. With Cardiff 70km from Bristol and kick-off at 5pm,
many fans took the refund offered. However, flight FR506 was reinstated
earlier this month -- after Munster qualified -- at 6.50am on May 24, with
fares before taxes of €229.99.
The Republic's Commission for Aviation Regulation said that the action
appeared to be "a cynical, commercial exercise" and it is being investigated
by the National Consumer Agency.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary told Newstalk fans could fly to Wales for free
"if they write into me before the end of this week".
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