A WEBSITE WHICH helps travellers recoup taxes for cancelled flights has apologised for claiming that Ryanair illegally holds on to customers’ money.
AirTaxRefund.com caters for people who book flights but then miss or cancel them, and are entitled to reclaim taxes, fees and charges. It secures the refund on a traveller’s behalf and charges them a fee for the service.

However, Ryanair launched a legal action for defamation against the site earlier this year over a press release in which AirTaxRefund stated that Irish airlines unlawfully hoard taxes and charges which should be returned to customers. The case, which was listed for hearing at Dublin Circuit Court yesterday, was settled out of court after AirTaxRefund agreed to apologise.

In a statement, the website said: “Airtaxback Limited confirms that, contrary to what was stated in that press release, Ryanair does not unlawfully retain customers’ money or steal from them.

The dispute arose over Ryanair’s terms and conditions, which state that the carrier may return Government taxes to the customer if they do not fly, but all other fees are non-refundable. Stephen McNamara, spokesman for Ryanair, said today: “Ryanair initiated defamation proceedings against Airtaxrefund following Mr Whelan’s claim that Ryanair unlawfully retained passengers’ money.

Ryanair is pleased with the acceptance by AirTaxRefund that passengers agree at the time of booking that Ryanair fares are non-refundable, and that Ryanair does not unlawfully retain customers’ money.  We welcome AirTaxRefund’s apology.

AirTaxRefund CEO Brian Whelan added: “We’re pleased with the manner in which this matter has been resolved and happy to apologise for any confusion we might have caused.”