The CEO of Ryanair has clashed with presenter Susanna Reid over refunds for passengers.
Michael O’Leary, the boss of the budget airline, appeared on Good Morning Britain today where he was quizzed about some passengers still waiting for their money back.
The Irish Travel Agents Association has claimed that Ryanair owes around £20 million in unpaid refunds.
When asked about this by Ms Reid, the two started to talk over each other until Mr O’Leary snapped: ‘Let me finish! I want to answer the point! Can I answer the point?’
He said that people should only make bookings directly through their official website, and that the only tickets which hadn’t been refunded were booked through third parties.
‘I wouldn’t believe anything that the Irish travel agents tell you,’ he said. ‘To put it into context, we don’t have any bookings from Irish travel agents. People are only supposed to book online or directly as consumers…’
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Ms Reid told him that member travel agents had made thousands of claims but Ryanair was ‘withholding refunds to travel agents and customers alike’.
She said that people would be reluctant to book future flights if they felt they were unlikely to get a refund if needed.
Mr O’Leary responded: ‘It’s been exposed by the coronavirus pandemic that we have all of these intermediate agents screening and making bookings and then overcharging customers, giving us fake customer contact details.
‘We have refunded all of the people who have applied to us directly for refunds. They’ve either got cash refunds or vouchers. There is nobody left in the queue for refunds except a tiny number of passengers who were duped into making bookings through screen scrapers or third party agents.’
He said that people should be able to book summer holidays this year: ‘We don’t believe there will be any restrictions or any hotel quarantines during the period June, July, August and September.
“This is when many British families are now booking their summer holidays.’
Many on social media appeared unhappy with the exchange, saying they were still waiting for a refund from the airline.
One woman wrote: ‘After watching Good Morning Britain this morning, I am very disappointed with Ryanair as the CEO claimed ALL passengers had been refunded. Been waiting since May 3 2020 for refund, had booked directly with you. Getting nowhere with you!’
Another claimed: ‘ONE YEAR I’ve been now waiting for me refund for a flight cancelled because of COVID. ONE YEAR!!!!! When are you going to give me my money back ?!?!!!’
After listening to the programme, one customer said: ‘We booked direct with Ryanair website for July last year, flights cancelled – still no refund!’
Over 100 people have now signed a petition started today urging ‘Ryanair Give us our refund!’
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