Fresh rap for Ryanair’s ‘attack’ ads

BUDGET airline Ryanair has been rapped once again for misleading customers – this time for falsely implying rival Thomas Cook was likely to go into administration.

The reprimand came in response to a string of adverts headed “Bye bye Thomas Cook” which claimed the tour operator was in “dire straits” and had accumulated debts of nearly £1 billion.

The “denigratory” campaign has now been banned for implying it was “risky” to book with the beleaguered travel company. Ads appeared in newspapers in November as the ailing holiday giant turned to its banks for financial aid amid fears it was on the brink of collapse. Each contained extracts from news stories which reported the British firm’s woes.

While one advert read: “Ryanair – guaranteed to keep flying this Christmas,” another apparently sought to reassure customers with the words: “We’re financially secure.”

The marketing sparked 15 objections. Some complainants claimed one ad implied Thomas Cook would have ceased trading by 25 December.

Ryanair defended its campaign and insisted it had not set out to mock its competitor’s cashflow troubles.