Ryanair bids to reverse Brussels ad ban

Ryanair has called on the Advertising Standards Authority to overturn its “factually false” ruling on the airline’s claim that it is faster and cheaper than Eurostar’s train service from London Stanstead to Brussels Charleroi.

The budget airline was banned from making the claim in its promotions on Wednesday after the ASA upheld complaints that it was misleading.

In an attempt to reverse the judgement, the low cost carrier has sent the ASA a copy of the “Dummies Guide to Mathematics”. It says the quango “clearly can’t add or subtract either and the false ruling should be reversed”.

Peter Sherrard, head of communications for Ryanair, says: “Only in a parallel universe of the ASA quango can a one hour and 10 minute flight be declared to be longer than a two hour and 11 minute train journey. Even a four-year-old with basic maths could tell you that the flight is shorter.

“Similarly, only the mathematically challenged ASA could declare that a £15 airfare is ‘not necessarily cheaper’ than a £27 train ticket.”

In its campaign, Ryanair claimed it offered a better deal than its competitor Eurostar: “Ryanair one way – from £15 – taxes and charges included. Eurostar one way – from £27 – taxes and charges included.”