Ryanair Ordered to Remove Advertisement Referencing Dakhla as Moroccan

Dublin, Ireland — Ryanair has been ordered to remove an advertisement that described Dakhla as a Moroccan destination. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of Ireland issued the directive, stating that the advertisement could mislead travelers. The ASA was prompted to act by a complaint from Irish MEP Lynn Boylan.

The advertisement in question promoted Ryanair flights to Dakhla, a territory in Western Sahara. The ASA noted that Dakhla's status is disputed, as it is listed by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory. The ASA's preliminary ruling highlighted the potential for the advertisement to mislead consumers about the political status of the region.

Ryanair has been given a deadline to remove the advertisement. The airline has not yet publicly responded to the ASA's directive. The ASA's decision comes amid ongoing debates over the sovereignty of Western Sahara, a region that has been a subject of dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front for decades.

**Context:** The dispute over Western Sahara's sovereignty has been a longstanding issue, with Morocco claiming the territory as part of its own and the Polisario Front advocating for an independent state. The United Nations has been involved in mediation efforts, but a resolution has yet to be reached. The ASA's ruling underscores the sensitivity of the issue and the potential for commercial entities to inadvertently become involved in political disputes.