Ryanair fails to get Skyscanner's counterclaim struck out in row over selling on of flights

Ryanair alleges Skyscanner uses automated software to scrape for commercial gain information such as flight prices and timetables from the airline’s website

Mr Justice Quinn said the airline did not demonstrate that its application was brought in the interest of saving court time, and the time and costs of the parties, as distinct from serving its own “strategic interests”. File picture

Ryanair has failed in its pre-trial attempt to have Skyscanner’s counterclaim and parts of its defence dismissed in proceedings brought by the airline alleging the price comparison site is unlawfully “screen scraping” data from its website.

In a lengthy judgment, the High Court’s Mr Justice Michael Quinn said it would be unsafe to accede to Ryanair’s request for the strike-out of Skyscanner’s counterclaim and a competition plea in its defence.