Ryanair urges minister to ‘improve his addition and subtraction’ after claims its low fares image doesn’t add up

Ryanair said the claims were “absurd and false” and that they were sending a copy of ‘Basic Maths for Dummies’ to the minister because he displayed an inability to add.

The airline also published a table of air fares to destinations cited by Mr Smyth showing Ryanair prices to be cheaper than Aer Lingus for the dates he referenced.

It said it was also sending Mr Smyth a €50 Ryanair travel voucher “as he clearly needs a short break”.

The airline’s response is the latest in a series of heated exchanges with senior Green Party figures in the row over the passenger cap at Dublin Airport.

Ryanair chief executive, Michael O’Leary, has repeatedly criticised Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, accusing him of doing nothing to help Dublin Airport expand.

The airport’s expansion proposals are currently with planners in Fingal County Council and Mr Ryan has said he can not intervene in a planning case.

Mr Smyth, speaking in the Seanad this week, said Ryanair had been provocative and insulting in its remarks about Mr Ryan.

He accused the airline of showmanship and trickery, claimed its outlandish campaign to expand Dublin Airport was to deflect attention from its fares which were not as low-cost as the company claimed.

“I really think what they are doing is that old trick of, look at the left hand and don’t look at what the right hand is doing,” Mr Smyth said.

“The truth is that Ryanair present themselves as a low fares airline but on the other hand, their fares went up 24pc last year.”

He went on to say he had conducted price comparisons of flights to London and Paris on various dates this week and found Ryanair more expensive than competitors.

The airline called on Mr Smyth to correct his assertions, saying in some cases, competitor air fares were more than double those of Ryanair’s on the routes referenced this week.

“It’s hard to believe that this Green minister can’t find a cheaper Ryanair fare, when millions of Irish consumers can on a daily basis,” Michael O’Leary said.

“We think his time would be better spent improving his addition and subtraction instead of making silly and false claims about Ryanair air fares.”