Ryanair ups free flights offer

Budget airline Ryanair tonight made a free fares offer on flights between Ireland and Germany - whoever wins tomorrow’s crucial World Cup soccer soccer clash between the two countries.

Budget airline Ryanair tonight made a free fares offer on flights between Ireland and Germany - but the direction wins tomorrow’s crucial World Cup soccer soccer clash between the two countries.

The Irish carrier made the move as part of an ongoing war of words with Germany’s Lufthansa airline over Ryanair’s establishment of a base at theFrankfurt Hahn airport.

Last week, Ryanair said it would fly passengers free on all 12 of its routes between Ireland and Germany on a specified day if Ireland beat Germany - and challenged Lufthansa to match the offer if Germany beat Ireland.

Tonight, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said that following the absence of a response from Lufthansa, the carrier would provide the seats free whichever team came out on top in Japan.

Also tonight, Ryanair announced what it called its biggest sale.

The no-frills company made two million seats available from Ireland to European and United Kingdom destinations at €9.99.

The seats will be open for passengers travelling between June 19 and October 23 and booking tomorrow and Thursday.