Ryanair could lose credit card charge

Germany's Superior Court of Justice ruled last month that Ryanair could not charge German residents €8 every time they book a return flight and pay by credit or debit card. The court ruled that the airline's handling fee was inadmissible because the airline does not offer a charge free way to book flights on line.

Ryanair responded by saying that it would challenge the ruling on the basis that passengers who book using Visa Electron do not pay any fees. almost on third of the airline's passengers use this method of paying.

The precedent of the German ruling means that similar cases could now be brought in other countries. Ryanair is expected to make in the region €765m in credit / debit card fees this year.