Ryanair has called on the UK's Advertising Standards Authority to reverse its finding against the airline’s claim that its London to Brussels flights are faster and cheaper than the Eurostar rail network.
Ryanair's Peter Sherrard said that what he called the 'ASA quango' was living in a parallel universe: 'Even a four-year-old with basic maths could tell you that the flight is shorter.'
The airline's press advertisement compared its one hour and ten minute flight from Stansted to Charleroi to the two hours and ten minute train trip.
But the advertising watchdog found that travelling from Brussels and London city centres to the two airports used by Ryanair would add one hour and 45 minutes to the total journey time.
It found that the advertisement breached rules relating to substantiation, truthfulness and comparisons with identified competitors.
The ASA also upheld a complaint from Eurostar about Ryanair claiming its London to Brussels flights were 'cheaper' than the train link.
