Márton Nagy, Hungary’s economic development minister, is demanding an apology from low-fare carrier Ryanair.
Nagy told MTI that the practices “Europe’s most profit-hungry airline” allows itself are “unfair and petty”.
He said the expectations of Hungary’s government are unchanged: everybody must abide by the rules, everyone must behave in a responsible and fair manner, and, most importantly, nobody should pass on the windfall taxes to consumers.
He noted that a consumer protection probe related to unfair ticket pricing practices is underway.
“If somebody needs to apologise, it’s Ryanair. An apology is in line for the Hungarian families to whom the airline wanted to pass on a tax of the kind that it pays without complaint in other European countries,” Nagy said.
Photo: FB
He added that thanks are due to all of the businesses that have made it their responsibility to contribute to managing the economic situation created by the war and acknowledge that “families’ security is more important than a few euros of extra profit”.
“Of course, we understand that provocation is Ryanair’s real aim,
because bad publicity is still publicity. The government views this exchange as closed; it will not participate in loudmouthed altercations,” he added.
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Source: MTI
3 Comments
Idiotic expectation from the Hungarian Minister of Economic Developement.
Hungary – should be GRATEFUL for the MUCH needed tourists, that Ryanair – bring to Budapest.
Hungary – 9.2 % of its Gross Domectic Product – is from Tourism.
Ryanair – under Democracy have every Legal Right, to inform ALL – the unacceptable increase charges applicable, to this Disaster.
Ryanair – are displaying SPLEEN – not withdrawing there position of Objection, on the newly created, departure tax – through need of the Hungarian Government to increase revenue, required through its continual downward traction trend of its Economy.
Governments, who claim to Govern & Rule under Democracy – then continual to grow in being DICTATORIAL, in there citizens appointed postion, through them being “Servants of the People” – to SERVE the People, what we witness in Hungary, is a Government, that continues to make a mockery of Democracy – and rules under a blatant ‘Dogma” – that is DICTATORIAL.
The argument is in all other countries that tax is added to the ticket and so is integral to the ticket price but Hungary does not want the tax to be added to the ticket price, it wants it to be subsumed within the existing ticket price which is a very different kettle of fish. Budget airlines work to very tight margins and this tax, without being passed on to passengers would many Ryanair routes from Budapest will become unviable. All they want is to be able to incorporate the tax into the ticket prices just as the they do elsewhere.
Ahhh … The “”Families” dog whistle. Hungary is under attack! Again!
To the point of NOT passing on the taxes – they were basically introduced retroactively. I.e. when they could not be included or added to the ticket price (which were to date quite low because of there not being a departure tax). That is the point Mr. O’Leary is trying to make. Politicians could not possibly raise taxes (“NO to the Global Minimum Tax!”) – so now they need to find the money, wherever…