( CNN ) -- Budget airline Ryanair faces an investigation from the UK 's consumer and competition authority following allegations of misleading and unfair advertising . Ryanair has complained to OFT about its ongoing row with the UK 's Advertising Standards Authority . British advertising watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority has referred Europe 's leading low-cost carrier to the Office of Fair Trading after it failed to act on a series of previous warnings over code breaches . ASA had found the Irish airline guilty of seven transgressions in a two-year period , it said on its Web site . It said Ryanair had exaggerated claims about the availability of flights at advertised prices , and it advertised prices that did not include taxes and charges . The ASA was also unhappy with Ryanair 's `` misleading '' comparisons with competitors , and that it did not display restrictions that would exclude customers from taking up an offer or provide evidence to prove the claims it was making . `` It is very disappointing , but absolutely necessary , that we have had to take this course of action , '' said ASA director general Christopher Graham , whose authority last referred a company to OFT in 2005 . `` The ASA has given Ryanair every opportunity to put its house in order and ensure that its advertising adheres to the codes . Instead , they have continued to mislead consumers and denigrate competitors . `` We would prefer to work with advertisers within the self-regulatory system rather than call in a statutory body , but Ryanair 's approach has left us with no option but to refer them to the OFT who will consider appropriate action . '' Last week , Ryanair complained to OFT about its treatment by the ASA . It said in a statement on its Web site that the ASA had `` demonstrated a repeated lack of independence , impartiality or fairness where Ryanair is concerned by making factually inaccurate and untrue findings in response ( in some cases ) to totally baseless and unsubstantiated alleged complaints . '' Ryanair 's Peter Sherrard said the ASA had `` clearly confirmed its bias and blind determination to rule against Ryanair 's adverts . '' In February , Ryanair had to shut down its Web site and call centers for three days while it upgraded its reservations system . The airline said the move was necessary to make technical changes as it converts to a new system , but OFT indicated at the time that the shutdown was due to Ryanair 's failure to meet a deadline to list all fares on the site . A Ryanair spokesman said the airline was not forced by the OFT to shut down its system as a punitive measure . He said the Web site already complied with OFT requirements and simply required an updated system . The OFT said it took action last year against 13 airlines that did not include `` fixed non-optional costs '' in prices on their Web sites . It said 11 airlines amended their sites to make those fees clear , but Ryanair and Ireland 's Aer Lingus asked for extra time . Aer Lingus met the new deadline , the OFT said , but Ryanair did not . Ryanair has previously been in trouble over adverts , including one depicting French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni before their wedding , and another showing a scantily-clad schoolgirl . E-mail to a friend .
Budget airline Ryanair faces criticism from Britain 's Office of Fair Trading . Irish low - cost carrier has been accused of misleading and unfair practices . UK advertising authority investigated Ryanair due to ongoing violations of its trademark . Ryanair claims it is being victimized by Advertising Standards Authority .