The Ryanair CEO said the spike was driven by demand rather than “cynical” pricing, arguing that the airline added 15 extra flights following the draw to accommodate supporters.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, he said: "We have a daily flight to Prague, during the draw, all the remaining seats on those flights on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday were all sold out. So before the draw was even concluded yesterday, we are completely full on our daily flight to Prague.

"We added, within an hour of the draw, we had an extra 15 flights going out to Prague and returning from Prague on that week. Now the reality of those flights is the returns are empty."

The airline chief argued that prices were higher because outbound flights are full, while inbound legs will operate with very few passengers.

He said: "While the prices are more expensive than we would normally charge, if we really wanted to price gouge people, we would have added one or two extra flights. We added fifteen extra flights. Fares are available on those flights between €300 and €400 each way. The return fare would be between €600 and €700, but that has to cover the cost of the empty flights coming the other way."

O’Leary said he almost “crashed the car on the M4” when he heard Fine Gael senator Mark Duffy call for a review of airline pricing through the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Responding to Duffy’s claims, O’Leary said: "I nearly crashed the car on the M4 this morning listening to that interview. He could not be more wrong."

Senator Duffy described the fare increases as “cynical”, saying airlines raised prices “within seconds of the draw being made”, adding that €900 returns were “totally outrageous and unfair”. He called for a formal review, arguing that loyal supporters “should not be taken advantage of”.