Shame on Ryanair

Dear Supporters,

 

Sadly Ryanair has recently begun advertising flights and holidays to Dakhla in Western Sahara while presenting the destination as part of Morocco.

 

As you aware Western Sahara remains a disputed territory under international law. The United Nations continues to classify it as a Non-Self-Governing Territory pending a process of self-determination for the Sahrawi people.

 

In its 1975 Advisory Opinion on Western Sahara, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that there were no ties of territorial sovereignty between Morocco and Western Sahara that would override the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.

 

Importantly, the UK Government has recently reaffirmed that products originating in Western Sahara “cannot be labelled as Moroccan” because doing so would mislead consumers.

 

In March 2026, DEFRA Minister Dame Angela Eagle stated in Parliament:  “It is the UK position that where origin information is given for food products made or grown in the Western Sahara, it must give accurate origin information and cannot be labelled as Moroccan.”

 

The Government further stated that products from Western Sahara labelled as Moroccan would be considered “misleading” under UK food labelling regulations.

 

If UK authorities recognise that describing Western Sahara products as “Moroccan” is misleading to consumers, then airlines and holiday companies should also not market destinations in Western Sahara as though they are internationally recognised parts of Morocco, as surely this also breaks consumer law.

 

Ryanair’s advertising and holiday listings risk misleading consumers by omitting the disputed legal status of the territory and presenting Dakhla simply as “Morocco”.

 

We please ask that everyone who can does submit a complaint to the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), asking them to investigate whether Ryanair’s advertising breaches rules against misleading advertising. Please note you can find instances of this advertising by Ryanair on their social media sites and also with a quick google search of "Dakhla holidays Ryanair), As the ASA may require evidence of the advertising.

 

ASA complaints can be submitted here: 

 

Suggested points to raise:

 

• Western Sahara is recognised by the UN as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, not internationally recognised as part of Morocco.

• The ICJ Advisory Opinion on Western Sahara rejected Moroccan sovereignty claims over the territory.

• The UK Government has stated that products from Western Sahara cannot be labelled “Moroccan” because that would mislead consumers.

• Ryanair’s advertising omits the disputed legal status of the territory and presents Dakhla simply as “Morocco”.

• Consumers are entitled to accurate geographical and political information when purchasing travel services, as DEFRA has recently confirmed, goods from western sahara should not be labelled as Moroccan, surely the same must be said of services also sold.

 

References for the above if needed:

 

• United Nations – Non-Self-Governing Territories - https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/nsgt/western-sahara

• International Court of Justice – Western Sahara Advisory Opinion (1975) - https://www.icj-cij.org/case/61

• UK Parliament written answers on Western Sahara labelling (March 2026) - https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-02-25/115919 Please share widely and encourage others to file complaints.Thank you for your support on the above,

 

In solidarity,

Karl Luetchford,

Western Sahara Campaign UK