European Commission Accept Multicom Complaint Against Rynair

The European Commission has accepted a complaint against Ryanair from travel software specialists Multicom who are claiming the carrier's stance on screen-scrapping is in breach of anti-competition directives.

It is the latest move by the Bristol based firm to protect what it believes is its right to offer the no frills airlines' flights to agents and retailers.

Multicom recently forecast that Ryanair's legal action in the UK, aimed at preventing scraping of its website by third parties, was likely to fail following a series of successful defences against similar action brought by Ryanair across Europe. However Multicom, suppliers of online booking software to over half of the UK travel agents, has now taken the issue to Brussels in a bid to resolve the dispute once and for all. 

John Howell, Managing Director of Multicom, said: "It would be far more productive for all concerned if we were able to resolve this amicably for all parties. 

"Nevertheless, our business, and that of the thousands of hard working Agents who are just trying to get the best deal for their customers is being restricted by what we are advised is a breach of the EU legislation regarding anti-competitive trading. 

"It is disappointing that Ryanair's litigious conduct is designed solely to secure and extend its own dominance of the travel market, leaving us with no alternative than to consider every route open to us to bring this matter to an end," added Howell.  

The company has been advised by Simon Halberstam of Solicitors Sprecher Grier Halberstam and Barrister Jonathan Turner while the co-correspondent in the EC complaint Bravofly, the leading independent online provider of travel agency services in Europe, has been supported by Dewey Le Beouf.