RCS - On the Beach Group - Successful Application for Summary Judgment

On Beach groupAnnouncement

31/10/2023 12:00

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RNS Number : 8921R  On the Beach Group PLC  31 October 2023

31 October 2023

 

On the Beach Group plc

("On the Beach", "OTB" or the "Group")

 

Successful Application for Summary Judgment in Ryanair Refunds Case

 

On the Beach Group plc (LSE: OTB.L) today provides an update that the High
Court of Justice found in its favour in its application for summary judgment
against Ryanair for refunds paid to customers by On the Beach following
flights which were cancelled or subject to a major change during the pandemic.
The case was launched in October 2021.

 

The Court found that Ryanair had no real prospect of successfully defending
the claims that it was obliged to refund the monies to On the Beach (i) under
Regulation 29 (Right of Redress) of the Package Travel and Linked Travel
Arrangements Regulations 2018; and (ii) under the law of unjust enrichment. As
such, On the Beach has been awarded the sum of c£2m and will also be seeking
its costs of the proceedings.

 

Since the commencement of this claim, On the Beach has continued to provide
its customers with cash refunds in circumstances where Ryanair has not yet
provided a refund and will be taking steps to recover these sums.

 

Shaun Morton, Chief Executive of On the Beach, commented: 

 

"We welcome the High Court's decision to uphold our application for Ryanair to
pay back what was owed. Today's outcome sends an important message on how
refunds should be handled and emphasises the industry's responsibility to
holidaymakers. On The Beach is committed to doing the right thing for its
customers and provided full cash refunds for flights that were cancelled or
subject to major changes during the pandemic whether or not airlines had
complied with their obligations.

 

"We continue to call on the CMA to review the anti-competitive behaviour by
certain low-cost airlines, protecting consumer choice with fair access to
flights and a code of conduct for airlines and travel agents. It has taken a
protracted and expensive legal process to reach today's outcome which could
and should have been avoided. We urge the Department for Business and Trade to
consider this in its current consultation on the Package Travel Regulations."

 

ENDS

 

 

For further information:

 

 On the Beach Group plc                  via FTI Consulting

 Shaun Morton, Chief Executive Officer

 Jon Wormald, Chief Financial Officer

 FTI Consulting                          Tel: +44 (0)20 3727 1000

 Alex Beagley

 Fiona Walker

 Sam Macpherson

 Rafaella de Freitas

 

About On the Beach

On the Beach Group plc is one of the UK's largest online beach holidays
retailers, with significant opportunities for growth. Its innovative
technology, low-cost base and strong customer-value proposition provides a
structural challenge to legacy tour operators and online travel agents, as it
continues disrupting the online retail of beach holidays. Its model is
customer-centric, asset light, profitable and cash generative.

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