The Business Travel Association (BTA) has warned that new booking terms introduced by Ryanair could limit the ability of travel management companies (TMCs) to support fully-managed business travel programmes.
Ryanair has implemented Offline Subscriber Booking Terms for TMCs booking via Global Distribution Systems (GDSs). The deadline for Sabre and Travelport users passed on March 31, 2026, while Amadeus users face a deadline in May 2026. According to the BTA, these terms introduce significant operational, servicing and commercial constraints.
The BTA identified four key areas of concern: liability, post-booking servicing rights, refund processes and data protection responsibilities. The association claims that Ryanair declined to engage with the BTA directly on these issues and proceeded with implementation through its distribution partners.
Under the new terms, TMCs are required to obtain express passenger consent and use Ryanair’s Travel Agent Direct platform for all post-booking changes rather than the original GDS tool. According to the BTA, this adds complexity for TMCs, passengers and travel managers, especially during delays, cancellations or other service disruptions.
The association highlighted that these changes may compromise core functions of managed travel, including duty of care, traveller tracking, policy compliance and financial reconciliation. For corporate buyers, these functions are considered operational necessities for supporting employees at scale and maintaining auditable travel programs.
For business travellers, the impact may include more limited support during disruptions, according to the BTA.
Employees may have to navigate rebooking or refunds directly rather than through their employer’s appointed travel partner, which the BTA suggests could particularly disadvantage junior employees or those without corporate credit cards.
Clive Wratten, CEO, BTA, said: “The BTA’s position is simple: employers must be able to include airlines in their travel programmes without creating blind spots in service, safety or audit.
“Some TMCs may conclude that they cannot accept the terms on commercial, operational or compliance grounds. Where that is the case, Ryanair content may no longer be available through parts of the managed travel channel, and TMCs may instead direct customers towards alternative carriers that can be supported within a fully managed programme.
“This is not a situation created by TMCs, and it is not about seeking special treatment. The BTA and its members understand the commercial objectives airlines are trying to achieve, and we are willing to engage with Ryanair constructively on this issue to support a corporate travel experience that is operationally workable and aligned with the standards business travellers receive elsewhere in the market.”
The Business Travel Magazine has approached Ryanair for a comment.
