Hi °C | Lo °C Top airlines have denied hiking up prices ahead of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-offs.
Angry soccer fans claimed Aer Lingus and Ryanair fares to Paris soared as soon as the Irish team drew France for the crucial November game.
But the Republic’s leading carriers insisted they were not 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,” an Aer Lingus spokeswoman said.
“We've just put out an additional 700 seats — there's just an incredible demand for the seats and they're being snapped up.”
Ryanair said all its flights to Paris had been blocked off at fares of €150 one-way prior to the draw. Three extra flights had been laid on to cope with the surge in demand since the November 18 match was announced, a spokesman for the no-frills airline added.
Fine Gael sports 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.
But Alan Hunter of the Irish Football Supporters' Association called for a boycott of the airlines.
“It's shameful to take advantage of people like this and it's happening every time,” he said.
“It's an injustice and there's a lot of anger among the fans.”
Mr Hunter claimed he was now 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 the prices then too,” he said.
“Nobody can afford to go at those prices and we will be making official complaints.”
The Irish side learned of its fate at a draw at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
The first leg will be played on Saturday, November 14 in Croke Park before the Stade de France game the following Wednesday.
