29th Feb 2008 11:16
Ryanair Holdings PLC29 February 2008 AVIATION REGULATOR PRESIDES OVER ANOTHER 50% PRICE INCREASE AT DUBLIN AIRPORT Ryanair today (Friday, 29th February 2008) published its submission to theAviation Regulator on the latest unjustified cost increases being sought by theDublin Airport monopoly, which include another 50% increase for check-in deskrentals and a new double charge for the floor space for self service kiosks inthe terminal, despite the fact that the airlines have already paid for thisterminal space through inflated airport charges. The Aviation Regulator posted a notice on his website inviting submissions fromairline users. However, the Regulator has refused to publish DAA'sjustifications for these price increases on the grounds that they were"confidential and commercially sensitive". Airport users were denied theopportunity to comment on these DAA submissions, because we haven't seen them.The DAA monopoly refused to provide them to users on the grounds that they hadbeen "sent directly to the Aviation Regulator", and the Regulator now refuses topublish them because he claims they are "confidential". Ryanair objects to this conspiracy between the Aviation Regulator and the DublinAirport monopoly. If the DAA monopoly is seeking a 50% increase in check-in deskcharges - more than ten times the rate of inflation - then airport users shouldbe given the details of the alleged costs on which this enormous price increaseis based. The Regulator, is again in breach of his statutory obligation to meetthe requirements of users by failing to publish this information for them. The DAA's latest request for a 50% increase in check-in desk charges comes justthree years after the Regulator previously rubber stamped a doubling of thesecharges. There is no justification for a 150% increase in Dublin Airportcheck-in desk rentals during a three year period when cumulative inflation wasless than 10%. There is no justification for any rental charge for theinstallation of check-in kiosks on the floor of Terminal 1, which has alreadybeen fully paid for by the airlines through high and ever rising airportcharges. This is a case of the airlines and passengers at Dublin Airport beingdouble and treble charged by an out of control DAA airport monopoly who isconspiring with an incompetent Aviation Regulator. Speaking today Ryanair's Peter Sherrard said: "The principal duty of this Regulator is to protect the reasonable requirements of Airport users. In the case of this latest inflation busting increase in check-in desk rentals, the Regulator has refused to provide users with the reasons for these cost increases and he is conspiring with the DAA monopoly to deny airport users any opportunity to comment on these cost increases. "Already over the past year short term car parking charges at Dublin Airport have been increased by 50%, ten times the rate of inflation. Now the DAA monopoly are looking for another 50% increase in check-in desk charges, again ten times the rate of inflation. The fact that the DAA are now looking to charge a floor space rental for self service kiosks despite the fact that this floor space has already been paid for in full by the airlines through high airport charges, confirms yet again that this Regulator has failed his statutory duty to protect the reasonable interests of users. "This useless Regulator continues to preside over a series of massive unjustified cost increases at Dublin Airport. He has failed on every occasion to meet the reasonable requirements of users. We believe it is high time that the Minister dismissed this incompetent Regulator and replace him with someone who is willing and able to challenge the DAA monopoly, and who is willing to defend the reasonable interests of airport users". Ends. Friday, 29th February 2008 For reference: Peter Sherrard - Ryanair Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants Tel: 00-353-1-8121228 Tel: 00-353-1-4980300 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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