In a startling revelation, Ryanair’s ongoing lawsuit against Booking Holdings has uncovered alleged top-level behavior within the company. The low-cost airline accuses Booking Holdings and its subsidiaries, Kayak and Agoda, of engaging in screen-scraping, which leads to inflated prices and poor customer service.
Ryanair seeks to depose executives, including Booking Holdings’ CEO, Glenn Fogel, shedding light on the consequences of this practice in the travel industry. This legal battle highlights the impact of screen-scraping on Ryanair’s fares and the need for accountability in the industry.
Allegations Against Booking Holdings Executives and Subsidiaries
Booking Holdings executives and subsidiaries are facing allegations from Ryanair. Ryanair claims that discussions took place regarding not selling Ryanair flights and the risks associated with selling certain airlines’ flights. Specifically, Ryanair accuses Booking Holdings executives of engaging in discussions about not offering Ryanair flights to customers. Additionally, Ryanair alleges that Booking Holdings executives discussed the potential risks involved in selling flights from certain airlines. These allegations have sparked a legal dispute between Ryanair and Booking Holdings, with Ryanair filing a lawsuit in Delaware. The dispute, which started in 2020, centers around Ryanair’s claims that Booking Holdings and its subsidiaries engage in screen-scraping. Screen-scraping is a practice where third parties access an airline’s website and offer its fares on their own websites. The legal battle between Ryanair and Booking Holdings is ongoing and continues to unfold in court.
Screen-Scraping and Its Consequences
Screen-scraping, a controversial practice in the travel industry, involves a third party accessing an airline’s website and selling its fares on their own platform. This practice has significant consequences, as highlighted by the ongoing legal dispute between Ryanair and Booking Holdings.
The consequences of screen-scraping include:
- Fares sold through screen-scraping are often priced higher than on the airline’s own website.
- Screen-scraping makes it difficult for the airline to contact passengers during flight delays or cancellations.
- Ryanair claims that screen-scraping leads to inflated prices and poor customer service.
- Ryanair has launched various cases against screen-scrapers to protect its fares and ensure a better customer experience.
These consequences shed light on the need for regulations and agreements to prevent unauthorized access and protect the interests of both airlines and passengers.
Legal Dispute Between Ryanair and Booking Holdings
The ongoing legal dispute between Ryanair and a major travel company highlights the contentious issues surrounding unauthorized access and the sale of airline fares. Ryanair has filed a lawsuit against Booking Holdings and its subsidiaries, accusing them of screen-scraping its fares and selling them at inflated prices. The dispute, which started in 2020, has led to a request for depositions from top executives on both sides. Ryanair wants to depose Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel, as well as Kayak CEO Steve Hafner and Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern. The airline alleges that these executives were aware of the risks of selling Ryanair flights without authorization. The legal battle continues in the Delaware court, with Ryanair seeking to hold Booking Holdings accountable for their alleged high-risk behavior.
| Allegations Against | Booking Holdings Executives | Kayak and Agoda Executives |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair Claims | Executives discussed not selling Ryanair flights | Executives knew the risks of selling Ryanair flights |
| Executives discussed risks of selling certain airlines’ flights | Executives continued accessing Ryanair’s website without authorization | |
| Booking Holdings CEO | Glenn Fogel is accused of orchestrating acquisition of Etraveli | N/A |
| Used by defendants to illegally access Ryanair’s website | Yes | N/A |
| Accused of screen-scraping Ryanair’s fares | Yes | N/A |
| Kayak CEO | N/A | Steve Hafner is accused of intentionally committing unauthorized access |
| Agoda CEO | N/A | Omri Morgenshtern is accused of accessing Ryanair’s website without authorization |
This table highlights the specific allegations against Booking Holdings executives and Kayak and Agoda executives in the ongoing legal dispute. It shows the claims made by Ryanair regarding their actions and involvement in the unauthorized access and sale of airline fares. These allegations play a crucial role in the legal battle and help shed light on the contentious issues at hand.
Allegations Against Kayak and Agoda Executives
Kayak and Agoda executives are facing allegations of unauthorized access and the sale of Ryanair flights without authorization. The allegations against them include:
- Ryanair claims that Kayak CEO Steve Hafner knew the risks of selling Ryanair flights on Kayak’s website.
- Kayak entered into a license agreement with Ryanair over a decade ago but continued accessing Ryanair’s website without authorization.
- Ryanair alleges that Hafner is responsible for intentionally committing unauthorized access.
- Ryanair also seeks to depose Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern and other Booking Holdings executives, including those from Kayak and Booking.com.
These allegations further add to the legal dispute between Ryanair and Booking Holdings, which has been ongoing in Delaware court. The depositions of Booking Holdings executives and the legal actions taken by Ryanair highlight the high-risk behavior that the airline claims comes from the top of Booking Holdings.
Depositions and Legal Actions
Depositions and legal actions continue in the ongoing dispute between Ryanair and Booking Holdings. These proceedings are shedding light on the alleged unauthorized access and sale of Ryanair flights without authorization by certain executives.
Ryanair has requested to depose additional Booking Holdings executives, including Alexandria Weltert and Laura Bornet from Kayak, and Anne Housseau and Chris Humphries from Booking.com. They have also asked the court to order Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel to make himself available for deposition. Ryanair claims that high-risk behavior comes from the top of Booking Holdings.
This legal battle started in 2020 and has already seen depositions from both sides. Ryanair deposed Booking Holdings’ chief technology officer, John Hurley.
As the lawsuit unfolds in Delaware court, the actions and testimonies of these executives will play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
Ryanair’s Claims Against Booking Holdings
Ryanair’s claims against Booking Holdings executives shed light on alleged unauthorized access and sale of Ryanair flights without authorization. The allegations made by Ryanair highlight the following:
- Ryanair claims that Booking Holdings executives discussed not selling Ryanair flights and the risks associated with selling certain airlines’ flights.
- Ryanair accuses Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel of orchestrating the acquisition of Etraveli, which Ryanair claims is used to illegally access its website.
- Ryanair further accuses Booking Holdings and its subsidiaries of screen-scraping its fares, resulting in inflated prices and poor customer service.
- As part of the legal dispute, Ryanair seeks to depose Kayak CEO Steve Hafner and Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern, alleging their knowledge of the unauthorized access and sale of Ryanair flights.
These claims and allegations have led to a legal battle between Ryanair and Booking Holdings, with depositions and further actions being taken in the Delaware court.
Impact of Screen-Scraping on Ryanair’s Fares
After outlining the allegations against Booking Holdings executives in the previous subtopic, the focus now shifts to the impact of screen-scraping on Ryanair’s fares.
Screen-scraping involves a third party accessing an airline’s website and offering its fares on their own website. According to Ryanair, fares sold through screen-scraping are often priced higher than on Ryanair’s own website. This practice not only leads to inflated prices but also makes it difficult for Ryanair to contact passengers during flight delays or cancellations.
In response, Ryanair has launched various cases against screen-scrapers, arguing that it results in poor customer service. The ongoing legal dispute between Ryanair and Booking Holdings in Delaware court revolves around allegations of screen-scraping, with Ryanair seeking permission to depose Booking Holdings executives, including CEO Glenn Fogel. The consequences of this practice and its effect on Ryanair’s fares are central to the dispute.
The Role of Booking Holdings CEO in the Lawsuit
Glenn Fogel, the CEO of Booking Holdings, plays a central role in the ongoing legal dispute with Ryanair.
Ryanair accuses Fogel of orchestrating the acquisition of Etraveli, a move the airline claims is used to illegally access their website.
Booking Holdings and its subsidiaries, including Kayak and Agoda, face allegations of screen-scraping Ryanair’s fares, resulting in inflated prices and poor customer service.
Ryanair has filed a lawsuit against Booking Holdings and seeks to depose Fogel, along with other executives from Kayak and Booking.com.
The court has already allowed Booking Holdings to depose Ryanair’s chief technology officer, John Hurley.
The legal battle continues in the Delaware court as Ryanair aims to expose the top-level behavior of Booking Holdings.
Ryanair’s Request to Depose Kayak and Agoda Ceos
Kayak CEO Steve Hafner and Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern are the executives that Ryanair wants to depose in the ongoing legal dispute. Ryanair alleges that Hafner knew the risks of selling Ryanair flights on Kayak’s website and continued to access Ryanair’s website without authorization. They claim that Hafner intentionally committed unauthorized access. Ryanair also seeks to depose other Booking Holdings executives, including those from Kayak and Booking.com. The table below highlights the allegations against Booking Holdings and its subsidiaries, as well as the consequences of screen-scraping.
| Allegations against Booking Holdings executives and subsidiaries | Screen-Scraping and its Consequences |
|---|---|
| – Ryanair claims executives discussed not selling Ryanair flights | – Screen-scraping involves a third party accessing an airline’s website and offering its fares on their own website |
| – Ryanair alleges that executives discussed risks of selling certain airlines’ flights | – Fares sold through screen-scraping are often priced higher than on the airline’s own website |
| – Booking Holdings CEO accused of orchestrating the acquisition of Etraveli | – Screen-scraping makes it difficult for airlines to contact passengers during flight delays or cancellations |
| – Ryanair claims Etraveli is used to illegally access their website | – Screen-scraping leads to inflated prices and poor customer service |
| – Ryanair accuses Booking Holdings and its subsidiaries of screen-scraping its fares | – Ryanair has launched cases against screen-scrapers |
The ongoing legal dispute between Ryanair and Booking Holdings continues in Delaware court.
The Ongoing Legal Battle Between Ryanair and Booking Holdings
During the ongoing legal battle between Ryanair and Booking Holdings, allegations have been made against Booking Holdings executives and its subsidiaries regarding screen-scraping and its consequences.
- Ryanair claims executives at Booking Holdings discussed not selling Ryanair flights.
- Ryanair alleges that Booking Holdings executives have discussed the risks of selling certain airlines’ flights.
- Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel is accused of orchestrating the acquisition of Etraveli.
- Ryanair claims Etraveli is used by defendants to illegally access Ryanair’s website.
These allegations have brought attention to the practice of screen-scraping and its potential negative effects. Screen-scraping involves a third party accessing an airline’s website and offering its fares on their own website. Ryanair alleges that fares sold through screen-scraping are often priced higher than on Ryanair’s own website, leading to inflated prices for customers. Additionally, screen-scraping makes it difficult for Ryanair to contact passengers during flight delays or cancellations, resulting in poor customer service.
The legal dispute between Ryanair and Booking Holdings has been ongoing since 2020. Ryanair filed a lawsuit against Booking Holdings and its subsidiaries in Delaware, accusing them of screen-scraping its fares. Both parties have requested permission to depose each other’s CEOs, Michael O’Leary and Glenn Fogel, respectively. This dispute has also extended to executives from Kayak and Agoda, with Ryanair seeking to depose their CEOs, Steve Hafner and Omri Morgenshtern, alleging that they knew the risks of selling Ryanair flights without authorization.
As the legal battle continues, Ryanair has requested to depose additional Booking Holdings executives, including those from Kayak and Booking.com. Ryanair claims that high-risk behavior comes from the top of Booking Holdings, and they believe that deposing these executives will provide further evidence to support their case. The depositions and legal actions are an integral part of the ongoing legal battle between Ryanair and Booking Holdings, shedding light on the alleged misconduct and exploring the consequences of screen-scraping in the travel industry.
