24th Jun 2008 17:56
Ryanair Response to Air Berlin Complaint
Ryanair, Germany's largest low fares airline, today (24th June) responded to this latest appeal by Air Berlin against Ryanair's cost base at Hamburg Lübeck Airport.
Ryanair confirmed that there is no basis for this complaint. Air Berlin's case against Lübeck was already rejected by the Appeals Court in Hamburg earlier this year. Lübeck is a privately owned airport, which is free to enter into negotiations with Ryanair and any other airline. It is notable that Air Berlin were offered a similar cost base to Ryanair at Hamburg Lübeck but refused to take up this offer. We believe that Air Berlin (an airline with high fares and fuel surcharges) which is unable to compete against Ryanair's low fares in Germany is making these doomed claims to distract attention from the failure of Air Berlin's expansion strategy and its increasing losses.
Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said today:
"Air Berlin's latest claim against our cost base at Hamburg Lübeck Airport has already been rejected by the Higher Regional Court in Schleswig-Holstein. It just shows that Air Berlin's strategy of high fares and fuel surcharges is failing in the German market."Air Berlin's claim follows the failure of its attempt last week to prevent Ryanair advertising its lowest fare guarantee in the German media. The Higher Regional Court in Cologne has approved Ryanair's right to advertise its lowest fare guarantee in the German market because it benefits competition and German consumers".
Ends. Tuesday, 24th June 2008
For further information:
Daniel de Carvelho - Ryanair Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants
Tel: 00 353 1 812 1598 Tel: 00 353 1 4980 300
Related Shares:
RYA.L