Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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100. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will investigate allegations of price gouging on airline tickets to the soccer world cup play offs, with flight prices to Prague increased by more than 3.5 times their original cost; the measures he will take to prevent such gouging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67559/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he has taken to engage with Irish airlines that engage in significant price hikes for flights to locations of international events including European fixtures for teams from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67712/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 116 together.

Under EU Regulation 1008/2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community, airlines have full pricing freedom in relation to setting air fares for intra-Community air services and other related services such as baggage.

The Regulation requires that air fares be transparent i.e. that passengers booking a flight must be aware of the final price of a flight including any supplemental elements selected by the passenger, at all times during the booking process.

Within this framework airlines regularly take into account various operational realities in setting these fares and charges over time, for example flights at peak times or with short advance bookings may attract higher prices, which is an industry norm.