Ryanair in a royal flap - 12.06.2009

RYANAIR have been brought down to earth by Spain’s royal palace after using Queen Sofia’s recent flight with them in an unofficial advert.

Yet the palace appear to be hamstrung regarding legal action against the Irish budget airline.
Ryanair, renowned for controversial ad campaigns, and for using celebrity images without permission, released an ad with a photo of the wife of King Juan Carlos and the slogan “fly like a monarch”.

The ad, published in the Spanish press last Friday, proclaimed: “It is a privilege for us that Queen Sofia flies with the company with the highest growth in Spain, Ryanair.”
Alongside the gushing slogan, the airline promised to donate 5,000 euros to a charity of the Queen’s choice “as a gesture of gratitude”.
 But a palace spokeswoman said: “We are angry and surprised. It has made improper use of the queen’s image.
“No one approached us or asked our permission. We refuse to be involved with this advertisement, or to have anything to do with any donation.”
She added: “We are looking into it, but there is nothing definite we can foresee in terms of legal actions or options.”

Queen Sofia flew on Ryanair from Santander to Stansted airport, in Essex, to visit her brother Constantine, the former king of Greece, who had undergone heart surgery.

The royal palace said at the time that the reason was not the low cost, but that the Irish airline offered her the best option for getting there on that date.

Ryanair are the only commercial airline who fly direct between Santander and the airport, which is only about 45minutes by road to London

Ryanair have only one class of passenger, with no reserved seats. They also offer the basic levels of comfort, and passengersmust pay for on-board services.