Airlines hike fares for Heineken Cup final

Airlines moved swiftly to increase the price of flights to London for the first ever all-Irish Heineken Cup final which will take place at Twickenham on May 19.

Leinster’s dramatic victory over Clermont Auvergne ensures thousands of rugby fans will be making the trip across the water after Ulster qualified on Saturday night for their first final since 1999.

And Ryanair and Aer Lingus have been quick off the mark to tap into the expected exodus in three weeks.

A Saturday morning Aer Lingus flight at 9.50am to Heathrow, returning the following day at 9.55am, available the following weekend for €238.98, will now cost €646.98 on May 19 and 20. The same return flight costs €193.98 the weekend before the match.

Ulster fans, who saw their side defeat Edinburgh in Saturday’s semi-final at the Aviva Stadium, will also face a stiff hike.

A Saturday departure at 7.15am, returning on Sunday at 9.30am, is available on the weekend of May 26-27 for £87.98 but rugby fans will have to fork out £495.98 for this return flight. The weekend before the match sees a return flight costing £101.98.

Ryanair also shoved up prices with a Saturday flight from Dublin to Stansted at 8.10am, returning on Sunday at 1.35pm, available for just €39.98 on the weekend of May 26-27 but Leinster rugby fans will have to pay €373.42.

This flight was last evening priced at €41.98 for Saturday, May 12, returning the following day.