11th Mar 2008 14:46
Ryanair Holdings PLC11 March 2008 RYANAIR RESPONDS TO FURTHER EVIDENCE OF EU BIAS Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline today (Tuesday, 11th March 2008)responded to further evidence of the European Commission's bias in applying oneset of rules for high fare flag carriers and another set of discriminatory rulesfor Ryanair. The European Commission announced today that it will investigate Ryanair's open,pro competitive deal at Bratislava Airport. The Commission's investigation isbased on a spurious complaint by "a competitor", likely either Austrian Airlinesor Vienna Airport in order to block competition from Ryanair and Bratislavaairport. The investigation is completely baseless and coming on the eve ofRyanair's appeal of the Commission's unlawful Charleroi Decision in the EuropeanCourt of First Instance is a pathetic attempt to put pressure on the Court. The European Commission's unlawful Charleroi decision has already been used byhigh fares airlines and high cost airports to launch spurious complaints againstsmall regional airports such as Tampere, Aarhus, Alghero, Lubeck, Pau and nowBratislava, despite the fact that the complaining high fare airlines have nointention of ever flying to these regional airports. They simply want to blockthe growth of these regional airports, block low fares, competition and choice.Ryanair is appealing the Commission's flawed and unlawful Charleroi ruling inthe European Court of First Instance tomorrow and is confident it will beoverturned. While the Commission responds rapidly to these baseless complaints fromCompetitor airlines/ airports, it is doing nothing at all to investigate andaddress the serious multi billion euro state aid subsidies to flag carrierairlines (Air France, Alitalia, Lufthansa and Olympic). The EuropeanCommission's lack of action over these serious state aid cases, has now forcedRyanair to take separate cases against the Commission in the European Court ofFirst Instance, to compel the Commission to apply its own state aid rules fairlyand without discrimination against Ryanair. Complaint Submitted InvestigationAgainst Ryanair:Alghero Dec '03 Aug '07Aarhus Jan '05 Jul '07Tampere Feb '05 Jul '07Lubeck Feb '06 Jul '07Pau Nov '06 Nov '07 By Ryanair:Volare Nov '05 No ActionLufthansa Nov '05 No ActionAlitalia Dec '05 No ActionCyprus Awys. Jan '06 No ActionAir France May '06 No ActionOlympic Dec '06 No Action Speaking today, Ryanair's Head of Regulatory Affairs, Jim Callaghan said: "This baseless and spurious investigation in Bratislava is just the latest example of the EU applying one set of rules for flag carrier airlines and another discriminatory set of rules for Ryanair and is a pathetic attempt by the European Commission to put pressure on the European Court of First Instance on the eve of the Charleroi appeal hearing. "We are confident that the CFI will overturn the Commission's patently flawed, anti competitive Charleroi decision and call on the Commission to stop ignoring or signing off on continuing unlawful State aid for the inefficient high fare flag carrier airlines while pursuing baseless complaints by flag carriers against low fares airlines operating out of regional and secondary airports. "This discriminatory twin track approach must end. It is time for the Commission to start promoting competition and consumer choice, and end unlawful State aid to flag carrier airlines". Ends. Tuesday, 11th March 2008 For further information: Peter Sherrard - Ryanair Pauline McAlester - Murray ConsultantsTel: 00 353 1 812 1228 Tel: 00 353 1 4980 300 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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