Hit or Miss - Ryanair ignores potential knocks to its reputation and cancels passengers' tickets

Fly away Budget airline Ryanair sparked controversy last week when it announced plans to cancel thousands of tickets bought on third party websites.

The airline said price comparison websites slowed down customers on its own site and they would only get the best deals directly from Ryanair. Consumer and travel agent groups expressed concern that the airline was penalising its customers.

HOW I SEE IT - EDDIE MAY, CO-FOUNDER, THREEPIPE

Ryanair almost certainly does not care about its image, apart from one core message: low prices. The whole business strategy is based on a 'take it or leave it' approach - the cheapest flights around but absolutely zero frills or niceties. Michael O'Leary has always known that controversy is the best way to keep Ryanair in the news and has played that card to great effect over the years. Despite being voted as the world's least favourite airline (Trip Advisor poll) Ryanair continues to carry millions of passengers every month. This story has not gone down well in the industry but I doubt Ryanair cares too much and if it can use this to reinforce the low price message, it is bang on strategy and will keep it in the headlines - HIT.

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