Ryanair CEO in war of words with Wizz after labeling unlimited flight deal a ‘scam’

Speaking to Irish radio station Newstalk last week, O’Leary dismissed Wizz’s landmark offer in Europe as “a bit of a marketing scam”, saying Ryanair would never consider introducing it.

“You can fly as often as you want, but you pay €9 every time you book a flight and you can only book the flight three days before departure,” he told Newstalk.

“Most of the flight will be full, there will be no seats available.

“It’s an interesting marketing stunt, but that’s about it.”

“People will still recognize that if you really want a low fare across Europe, whether it’s Wizz markets or Ireland, you’ll book Ryanair.”

Unlimited Wizz Air flights

Wizz announced the deal last week, giving spontaneous travelers the chance to collect air miles across Europe at a discount.

However, there are a number of conditions. Flights can only be booked within 72 hours of departure and will still have to pay a €9.99 booking fee for each flight.

A new EU entry/exit scheme due to be introduced in the autumn will force airlines to check in passengers 48 hours before a flight, potentially shortening the window in which passengers can use their benefits.

Speaking to Newstalk on Tuesday, Yvonne Moynihan, corporate director and ESG officer at Wizz Air, blasted O’Leary’s comments about the deal.

“Mr O’Leary’s comments were not only provocative, they were also inaccurate, she said.

Moynihan says his €499 subscription sold out “almost immediately” after it was offered to the public last week.

Asked if there would even be seats available within 72 hours, Moynihan said it would be unlikely that a flight would be sold out, with an average “load factor” of between 90 percent and 95 percent.

A Ryanair representative did not immediately respond Of luck request for comment.

One area where Ryanair and Wizz Air are aligned is that of a onerous passenger cap at Dublin Airport.

O’Leary spent much of the Newstalk interview condemning the 32 million annual limit at Ryanair’s main airport, given that it has a capacity of 60 million after a second runway is introduced in 2022 .

He indicated in June that Ryanair would “make a fortune” this Christmas, blaming local authority Fingal County Council for pandering to NIMBYism from locals.

Wizz Air’s Moynihan said the airline, which does not operate flights to Ireland, has no plans to change this until the passenger cap is lifted.