Office of Fair Trading (OFT) chief executive John Fingleton accused him of being “puerile” and “childish” over the airline’s policy of charging extra for most forms of credit card payment.

Under the law, airlines can advertise cheap flights and omit extra penalties as long as they offer at least one payment method free of charge. Ryanair offers free transactions for Mastercard prepaid card users only – a rare payment form.

"It’s almost like taunting consumers and pointing out: ‘Oh well, we know this is completely outside the spirit of the law, but we think it’s within the narrow letter of the law’," Fingleton told The Independent.

He added: "On some level it’s quite puerile – it’s almost childish." 

Along with other budget airlines such as Stelios’ easyJet, Ryanair is popular with small businesses and bargain hunters alike because of its emphasis on price.  

Related article:Ryanair: Cost-cutting gone mad?

Share this story