Ryanair calls on BA to drop "rip off" surcharges

Low cost airline Ryanair is demanding that British Airways drops its fuel surcharges following the fall in oil prices.

The airline points out that since April the price of a barrel of oil has dropped $15, but British Airways has not let its fuel surcharge drop as well.

Peter Sherrard, Ryanair's head of communications, said: "BA made over £400 million last year by ripping passengers off with its inflated fuel surcharges. The price of oil has now fallen but BA's profiteering instincts have remained and they are keeping their fuel surcharges pumped up at a record high."

He went on to point out when oil cost $55 a barrel in June 2005 the BA surcharge stood at £48, but with oil prices now at $56 the surcharge is at £70.

Mr Sherrard added: "BA's fuel surcharge of £35 per one way flight is higher than Ryanair's average fare of just £28 and passengers who choose Ryanair know they will never have to pay a rip off fuel surcharge, not today, not tomorrow, not ever."

Ryanair has also announced that since may 1986 it ahs now flown nine million passengers form London Luton.

Caroline Baldwin, the airline's UK sales & marketing manager, said: "Only Ryanair offers the lowest fares from Luton and today's significant milestone of nine million passengers is a testament to our lowest fares and best on time performance.

"There has never been a better time to snap up the opportunity to go Christmas Shopping in Dublin, Milan or Barcelona. What's more with the pound worth almost one and a half times the euro your money will go much further."