Stansted-based airline Ryanair has hit back at an accusation that it gives misleading information over its destinations.

The Consumers' Association has claimed Ryanair "has overstepped the mark" by using airports up to 70 miles from the city advertised, and is to report the airline to the advertising watchdogs.

However this charge is strongly refuted by the Stansted-based budget airline which dismisses the report as "another typical piece of poorly-researched nonsense."

The Consumers' Association said Ryanair could be misleading travellers with its advertising and website claims; stating that the airline uses airports which are not in the same country as the stated destination.

It points out that passengers booking seats to Copenhagen are actually flown to Malmo in Sweden from where they have to take a 50-minute bus, boat or train ride to reach the Danish capital.

But Enda O'Toole, Ryanair's press officer rejected the criticism saying: "There is absolutely nowhere on our website or in any of our advertising that we say we fly to Copenhagen.

"We are certainly not here to mislead people and we have not had any complaints from passengers suggesting that we are."

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Published Wednesday, March 13, 2002