RYANAIR was fined 250,000 last week by a French court for "misleading" advertising. A judge said the ad was disparaging to Air FranceKLM, which complained about a claim by Ryanair that it was 391% cheaper than Air France-KLM.

The airline also criticised a claim in Ryanair leaflets that the low-fares carrier "made the sky the cheapest place on earth" . . . a play on Air France-KLM's slogan that it "made the sky the most beautiful place on earth".

This is not Ryanair's first rap on the knuckles this month. A Danish court fined Ryanair over 9,000 for "misleading" claims that it was cheaper than SAS.

CAMPBELL'S SOUP TO CONSOLIDATE MEDIA

THE Campbell Soup Company last week said it will consolidate its international media buying, but Irish activities will not be affected yet.

Until the group decides on a disposal of its soup business in Ireland and subsidiaries in the UK, ZenithOptimedia will continue to handle buying and planning services for brands such as Erin in Ireland and Batchelors in the UK, Campbell said.

Last year Campbell purchased over $300m in global advertising. Under the new plan, almost all media buying and planning will be undertaken by Mediaedge: cia (MEC).

CHANGES ANNOUNCED AT THE TOP OF CARAT

MEDIA planner and buyer Carat Ireland, founded by Pat Donnelly, has announced some changes to its senior management team, with former managing director Ciaran Cunningham appointed chief executive and Dave Winterlich stepping in to the managing director's role. Peter McPartin, former deputy managing director at Irish International, is joining Carat as strategic director.

Alan Cox was the former chief executive of Carat, but the agency took legal action against him in March when he said he was leaving to join rival Stacom MediaVest.

Carat argued that a clause in his contract prevented him from working with a rival for a 12-month period, a claim Cox denied. The case is still in the courts.