12th May 2006 11:47
Ryanair Holdings PLC12 May 2006 RYANAIR TO APPEAL ITALIAN COURT'S DECSION TO BLOCK LOW FARES AND COMPETITON Ryanair, Europe's No. 1 low fares airline today (Friday, 12th May 2006) statedthat it will appeal the decision of the regional administrative court of Lazioto stop Ryanair and Easyjet's low fare flights on routes between mainland Italyand Sardinia. The Italian authorities blocked Ryanair's low fare flights between Rome andAlghero by imposing a Public Service Obligation on the route in spite of thefact that 2 airlines (Ryanair and Airone) were already operating year roundflights between Rome and Alghero. This is not allowed under European PSO rules.These rules have also been abused by the Italian authorities because Alitalia isbeing allowed to fly on PSO routes to Sardinia when it did not even apply tooperate them in the first place. Speaking today Peter Sherrard, Ryanair's Head of Communications said: "We have instructed our lawyers to appeal this decision to the European courts to ensure that low fares and competition are allowed in Italy. It is astonishing that while Ryanair has been blocked from offering low fares between mainland Italy and Sardinia, Alitalia is being allowed to sell its high fares on PSO routes that it did not even apply for. "The PSO system in Europe is clearly out of control. It is being abused by national Governments to protect high fare flag carriers while at the same time blocking low fare competition. Italian consumers and visitors should not be forced to pay higher fares because the Italian authorities are abusing the PSO system to protect Alitalia and other high fare Italian airlines". Ends. Friday, 12th May 2006 For further information: Peter Sherrard - Ryanair Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants Tel: 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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